•  " 


LIBRARY 

WWVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
DAVIS 


J. 


"I  can  never  tell  you  exactly  the  way  I  felt." 


ARIZONA 

A  Drama  in  Four  Acts 

By  AUGUSTUS  THOMAS, 
Author  of  A  LAB  A  MA,  IN 
MIZZOURA,  etc.,  etc.  /.  /..  .-. 


New  York:  R.  H.  Russell 

M  DCCC  XCIX 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
DAVIS 


jHIS  play  is  fully  protected  by  the 
copyright  law,  all  requirements  of 
which  have  been  complied  with.  In 
its  present  printed  form  it  is  dedicated  to  the 
reading  public  only,  and  no  performance  of  it 
may  be  given,  except  by  special  arrangement 
with  the  owner  of  the  acting  rights,  who  may  be 
addressed  in  care  of  the  publisher. 

COPYRIGHT,      1899 
By     ROBERT     HOWARD     RUSSELL 


The    PERSONS    of  the    PLAY 

The    ORIGINAL    CAST    at 
Hamlin's  Grand  Opera  House  t  Chicago 


HENRY  CANBY,  owner  of  Aravaipa  ranch, 

MR.  THEODORE  ROBERTS 
Colonel  BONHAM,  Eleventh  United  States 

Cavalry,  .         .MR.  EDWIN  HOLT 

SAM  WONG,  a  cook,  .  .  .  MR.  STEPHEN  FRENCH 
Mrs.  CANBY,  wife  of  the  rancher,  .  Miss  MATTIE  EARLE 

ESTRELLA  BONHAM,  wife  of  the  Colonel,  Miss  MABEL  BERT 
LENA  KELLAR,  a  waitress,  .  .  Miss  ADORA  ANDREWS 
Lieutenant  DENTON,  Eleventh  United 

States  Cavalry,  ....  MR.  ROBERT  EDESON 
BONITA  CANBY,  Estrella's  sister,  .  .  Miss  OLIVE  MAY 
Miss  MAcCULLAGH,  a  school  teacher,  Miss  EDITH  ATHELSTONE 
Dr.  FENLON,  surgeon,  Eleventh  United  States 

Cavalry,  .....      MR.  SAMUEL  EDWARDS 

Captain     HODGMAN,     Eleventh     United 

States  Cavalry,  ....  MR.  ARTHUR  BYRON 
TONY  MOSTANO,  a  vaquero,  .  .  MR.  VINCENT.SERRANO 
Lieutenant  HALLOCK,  Eleventh  United 

States  Cavalry,          .         .          .  MR.  FRANKLIN  GARLAND 

Sergeant  KELLAR,  Eleventh  United  States 

Cavalry,  .....  MR.  WALTER  HALE 

Lieutenant     YOUNG,     Eleventh     United 

States  Cavalry.          .          .          .  MR.  LIONEL  BARRYMORE 

Major    COCHRAN,    Eleventh   United    States 

Cavalry,          ....  MR.  MENIFEE  JOHNSTONE 


ARIZONA 


THE   FIRST  ACT 

\HE  scene  represents  the  interior  of 
an  adobe  courtyard,  and  shows  three 
sides  of  a  rectangle  formed  by  the 
dwelling- house  and  stables  of  a  well- 
to-do  rancher.  On  the  right  of  the 
stage  three  doors  open  upon  a  small  hooded  and 
latticed  veranda ;  the  doors  leading  respectively  to 
the  dining^  living,  and  bedrooms  of  the  dwelling. 
On  the  left  of  the  stage  are  the  stables  and  wagon- 
sheds^  through  the  doors  of  which  show  the  mangers. 
A  Mexican  carette  protrudes  from  the  wagon-shed. 
Near  the  stable  and  at  the  back  is  a  well,  with  an 
adobe  curb.  The  third  and  back  side  of  the  rectangle 
is  filled  by  a  large  gateway,  which  may  be  closed  by 
two  massive  wooden  gates,  now  standing  open.  Through 
the  open  gateway,  and  over  the  low  roof  of  the 
dwelling  and  stable,  the  mountains  that  wall  in  the 


8  ARIZONA 

Aravaipa  Valley  show  in  bold  relief  against  the  hot 
summer  sky  of  Arizona.  HENRY  CANBY,  the  ranch 
owner,  aged  sixty,  and  COLONEL  BONHAM,  aged 
fifty-two,  are  seated  at  a  rough  deal  table.  Julep 
glasses  are  beside  them.  Both  men  are  in  their  shirt 
sleeves. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

[As   COLONEL   draws    last    of  julep   through    straw.~\       Have 
another? 

COLONEL. 
No,  I  think  not. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

Well,  if  you  only  think  not —      \_Calls.~\      Sam — 

COLONEL. 

They  're  just  a  trifle  strong  for  me. 

[SAM,  a  Chinaman,  enters  from  the  house. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

Sam,  fix  two  more  of  these,  and  don't  put  quite  so  much  whis 
key  in  the  Colonel's. 

SAM. 

Yes  sa.      [He  goes  into  the  house  carrying  the  julep  glasses. 

COLONEL. 

I  really  oughtn't  to  take  another  one,  but  it's  been  a   year  since 

I  had  a  smell  of  mint. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

I'll  do  up  a  bundle  of  it  for  you. 

COLONEL. 

No,  no,  I  couldn't  use  it  at  the  Post. 


ARIZONA  9 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

Well,  if  you  can't  find  a  market  for  a  bundle  of  mint  in  a  regi 
ment  of  cavalry,  I  'd  like  to  know  where  on  God's  green  earth — 

COLONEL. 

Oh,  they  'd  like  it  all  right,  but  it 's  a  bad  example  in  a  Colonel. 
Besides  Estrella  kicks  if  I  get  off  the  water-wagon  too  often.  Once 
she  said  this  nose  of  mine  commenced  to  get  little  blue  railroad 
maps  ;  had  to  paint  it  with  bismuth.  And  if  Estrella  scents  liquor, 
anywhere,  she  pretends  they're  coming  back  again. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

I  know  Estrella.  Used  to  try  to  put  a  crimp  in  my  medicine 
with  the  same  scare;  but  I  pretended  to  like  it,  and  used  to  shine 
up  my  horn  this  way  [He  catches  his  nose  with  one  hand  and 
pretends  to  polish  it  vigorously  with  the  other. ,]  whenever  she  began 

her  lecture. 

COLONEL. 

I  reckon  you  'd  toe  out  a  little  more,  if  you  were  her  husband. 

C  A  N  B  Y  . 

Yes,  I  guess  I  would.  A  woman  that  's  married  to  a  fellow  has 
a  pretty  tight  cinch  on  him — that  is,  if  he  likes  her. 

COLONEL. 

And  I  confess  I  do  like  Estrella.  She  's  really  great, Governor. 
You  're  her  father,  of  course,  and  ought  to  know  her,  but  she  's  a 

brick. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

Colonel,  at  her  age  they  're  all  pretty  good — and  when  one  of 
'em  happens  to  marry  a  man  that  's  sort  o'  settled — 

COLONEL. 

Or  even  gray-headed — 


io  ARIZONA 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

Yes — why  he  's  pretty  sure  to  be  a  little  dotty  about  her. 

COLONEL. 

You  think  I'm  "  dotty  "  about  Estrella  ? 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

[In  an  explosive  high  laugh.]      He,  he —  Oh,  no — 

COLONEL. 

Well,  how  do  I  show  it  ? 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

Why,  ridin'  down  here.  Why  didn't  you  stay  with  the  troop, 
and  come  to- day  ? 

COLONEL. 

I  avoided  the  heat. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

[Resignedly.]  All  right.  [SAM  re-enters  with  the  juleps.] 
Come  on.  There  's  yours. 

[SAM  places    the  glasses  on  the  table  and  goes  into  the 
bouse. .] 

COLONEL. 

[Taking  bis  glass]      Well,  that  's  a  fact. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

I  s'pose  if  Estrella  hadn't  been  here,  you'd  'a'  rode  down  jest 
the  same. 

COLONEL. 

No,  I  don't  say  that. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

You'  d  been  a  week  at  Carlos,  and  you  was  simply  honin'  like  a 
sailor  to  get  back, — and,  Colonel,  you  are  jes'  naturally  dotty 
about  her. 


HENRY   CANBY 


ARIZONA  ii 

COLONEL. 

\Mtodily. ~\    You  don't  understand,  Governor. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

\Laughing  again, ,]    He,  he!   Well,  you  're  startin'  a  little  late  to 
learn  me.      He,  he! 

COLONEL. 

I  '  m  rather  careful  about  Estrella —  [He  rises  and  looks  cautiously 
about. ~\ — because — there's  something  wrong. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

Wrong  ? 

COLONEL. 

She  ain't  happy. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

Git  out. 

COLONEL. 

I  mean  it. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

She  's  been  here  a  whole  week,  and  I  never  saw  her  chippcrer 
in  her  life. 

COLONEL. 

But — I  was  away. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

Well  ?      \_The    COLONEL    shrugs  shoulder s.~\      You  mean   that 
made  her  chipper  ? 

COLONEL. 
[Sitting.'}      Yes. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

Why  ? 

COLONEL. 

Because  she  isn't  happy  at  the  Post. 


12  ARIZONA 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

Well,  you  ain't  the  Post. 

COLONEL. 

But  I  *m  her  husband. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 
[After  a  pause. ]      Ain't  the  julep  brewed  proper  ? 

COLONEL. 

[Taking  the  julep  mechanically.  ]  I  'd  think,  maybe,  she  was 
lonesome  for  her  own  people,  but  most  of  her  life  was  spent  away 
from  you,  at  school  and  at  the  Seminary  in  'Frisco. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

[Rising  and  walking.]  Colonel,  I've  broke  a  good  many  colts, 
broke  lots  of  'em  to  go  double.  When  you  first  yoke  'em  up, 
they  jes'  whip-saw  that  way.  [He  pantomimes  a  sudden  and  dis 
concerted  pulling  with  bis  bands. ~\  They  ain't  never  both  agin 
the  tugs  at  the  same  time.  Then  I  give  'em  the  gaff,  an'  after 
they  've  run  'emselves  nearly  to  a  standstill,  I  point  'em  home. 
They  come  back  together  like  the  wheelers  in  a  band  wagon. 

COLONEL. 
But  I'm  no  colt,  Governor. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

You  are  at  gittin'  married;  and  all  new  married  folks  are  jes'  the 
same.  For  a  while  whip-saw — then  bolt.  Some  bolt  harder  and 
more  of  it  than  others,  but  they  bolt — all  of 'em. 

COLONEL. 

Well,  are  Estrella  and  I  whip-sawing  or  bolting  ? 


ARIZONA  13 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

[Resuming  bis  place  at  the  table.~\  I  take  it  you  're  boltin*. 
Each  of  you  thinks,  if  he  could  only  run  a  little  faster,  he'd  get 
away  from  the  other  ;  but  you  can't.  You  're  yoked.  Now,  that 
don't  mean  trouble ;  it  simply  means  you  ain't  used  to  your 
harness. 

[MRS.  CANBY  enters  excitedly  from  the  bouse,  carrying  a  pair  of 
feld  glassesJ\ 

MRS.   CANBY. 

Henry. 

CANBY. 
Hello,   mother. 

MRS.  CANBY. 

I  been  lookin'  at  that  cavalry  troop  through  the  Colonel's  spy 
glasses. 

CANBY. 

Ma  loves  the  soldiers. 

MRS.  CANBY. 
Git  out!  I  been  watchin'  fur  Bonita. 

CANBY. 
Oh,  Bonita  's  all  right. 

MRS.    CANBY. 

She  went  out  at  three,  and  it  's  after  six  now. 

CANBY. 

Well  ? 

MRS.   CANBY. 

And  jest  as  I  thought,  she  's  gallivanted  up  the  Valley  to  meet 
the  troop. 

CANBY. 

Well,  we  ain'  t  never  hung  anybody  for  that. 


i4  ARIZONA 

MRS.     C  A  N  B  Y. 

But  one  girl  herdin'  with  forty  soldiers  all  afternoon — 

COLONEL. 

Why,  bless  your  soul,  mother,  she  's  Estrella's  sister,  and  any 
one  of  them  would  let  Bonita  walk  on  him. 

MRS.     CANBY. 

I  don't  see  that  helps  any.  Imagine  her  walkin'  on  one  of 
'cm.  [Goes  anxiously  to  the  gate.~\ 

CANBY. 

Colonel,  Ma  won't  stand  for  any  poetry. 

MRS.     CANBY. 

I  was  a  girl  in  this  territory  myself.       [She  returns."] 

CANBY. 

Well,  nothing  happened   to  you,    that    you   couldn't  get  over, 

did  they? 

MRS.     CANBY. 

\_After  a  glare  at  him.~\  Well,  I  '11  leave  it  to  anybody  that 
knows  you.  [CANBY  begins  to  polish  his  nose.~\  Stop  that  ! 
["CANBY  stops.~\  Whenever  he  begins  that  torn-fool  dido,  you  kin 
know  Henry  's  had  his  full  gauge. 

CANBY. 

Colonel,  she  always  jackets  me  when   either  of  the  girls   steps 

over  a  trace. 

MRS.    CANBY. 

Well,  somebody  's  responsible. 

CANBY. 

See  ?  Ma  's  made  out  somehow  that  it  's  my  fault  they  was  n't 
boys. 


ARIZONA  15 

MRS.      C  A  N  B  Y. 
Where  's  Estrella  ? 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

Layin'  down. 

MRS.      C  A  N  B  Y. 

Well,  I  think  she  might  be  doin'  better  when  the  Colonel  's  rode 
nearly  all  night  to  spend  the  day  with  her. 

COLONEL. 

Oh  no,  no.      Estrella  usually  takes  a  nap  in  the  afternoon  at 
the  Post. 

[ESTRELLA   enters  from   the   bouse   dressed  in    an    easy 
wrapper. 

ESTRELLA. 
[Half  sleepily, ,]      Hello,  everybody. 

MRS.      C  A  N  B  Y. 

Are  you  up  for  all  day,  Estrella  ? 

ESTRELLA. 

Yes,  and  all  night,  if  it  's  as  pretty  as  last  night  was.     [She  puts 
her  arms  over  the  COLONEL'S  shoulders  and  kisses  him. 

COLONEL. 

Get  a  nap,  sweetheart  ? 

ESTRELLA. 

Not  much.      I  was  reading  most  of  the  time.      Has  C  Troop 
come  ? 

COLONEL. 

Not  yet. 

MRS.       C  A  N  B  Y. 

[From  the  gateway. ~\    They  're  in  sight,  and  Bonita  Js  Joan-of- 
Arc-in'  'em. 


16  ARIZONA 

ESTKELLA. 

Oh,  that's  fun.  I'd  have  gone  with  her  if  I  'd  known  it.  [She 
pauses  as  she  catches  sight  of  the  glasses. ]  What  are  you  drinking, 
Frank  ? 

COLONEL. 
Julep.      [Glances  warningly  at  CANBY. 

ESTRELLA. 

You  mustn't  let  Pa  get  you  into  bad  habits. 
[CANBY  begins  polishing  nose. 

MRS.     CANBY. 
Stop  it. 

CANBY. 

We  been  drowndin'  our  sorrows,  the  Colonel  and  me.  He  'a 
got  an  idear,  Estrella,  that  you  ain't  easy  down  at  the  Post. 

ESTRELLA. 
Why,  I  don't  see  how. 

COLONEL. 

[Putting  his  arm  about  her  waist. ~\  Thought  you  were  a 
trifle  moody,  that  's  all.  Thought  maybe  you  were  getting  a  little 
homesick  for  the  city. 

ESTRELLA. 

[In  lulling  manner, ,]      Why,  no. 

MRS.     CANBY. 

Well,  any  woman  that  could  get  lonesome  at  the  Post,  deserves 
it.  Huh!  You  ought  to  have  a  dose  of  this  place — cactus  and 
sand,  and  slab-sided  cattle,  and  havin'  to  let  the  clock  run  down 
to  tell  when  it  Js  Sunday.  I  don't  know  what  women  want  now- 
a-days.  [She  goes  up  to  the  gate. 


ARIZONA  17 

COLONEL. 

Maybe  they  want  their  husbands  like  C  Troop's  first  Lieuten 
ant,  young  and  handsome 

ESTRELLA. 
[Her  fngers  over  bis  lips.~\      Stop — stop,  I  won't  hear  you! 

COLONEL. 

And  then,  as  soon  as  I  M  got  her,  I  log-rolled  a  transfer  down 
here  in  the  desert,  where  she  can't  possibly  escape. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 
Don't  call  the  Aravaipa  Valley  a  desert,  Colonel. 

COLONEL. 

Estrella  called  it  that. 

ESTRELLA. 

But  I  didn't  know  how  pretty  Fort  Grant  could  be.      I  thought 

it  was  all  like  this. 

COLONEL. 

Oh,  the  Post  is  better  than  this,  but  it  isn't  San  Francisco,  is  it, 

dear  ? 

ESTRELLA. 

I  don't  think  of  San  Francisco,  Frank. 

MRS.   CANBY. 

I  hope  not.  San  Francisco  's  got  all  it  can  answer  for.  You 
ain't  been  anything  but  faint-and-fall-in-it,  and  Bonita  wouldn't 
touch  a  darnin'  bag  with  a  ten  foot  pole  since  they  San  Francis- 
coed  her. 

CANBY. 

Well,  what  's  the  money  for,  Ma,  if  it  ain't  white  bread  to  the 
girls  ? 


i8  ARIZONA 

MRS.   CANBY. 
Well,  it  might   be  a  little  white  bread   to  me. 

CANBY. 

[To  COLONEL.]  Woundn't  you  think  it  was  nothin'  but  crackers 
and  water  ?  An*  she  's  got  finery  enough  in  those  rooms  to  sink  a 
ship.  They  's  a  dymond  breast-pin,  big  as  a  paddle-lock — a  gold 
bracelet  so  thick  that  the  greasers  don't  steal  it,  'cause  they  think 
it  Js  brass.  There  's  silk  dresses 

MRS.   CANBY. 

Yes,  and  greasers  are  all  they  are  to  show  'em  to.  I  never 
been  out,  Colonel,  in  my  breast-pin  but  once  in  five  years,  and 
that  was  to  the  opera  at  El  Paso. 

CANBY. 

Oh,  Ma,  you  wore  it  on  the  sleepin'-car  to  Phoenix! 

MRS.   CANBY. 

But  we  was  the  only  folks  in  the  car,  besides  the  nigger. 

CANBY. 
Well,  I  saw  him  looking  at  it. 

[LENA  enters  from  the  bouse. 

LENA. 

Mrs.  Canby. 

MRS.   CANBY. 
Yes? 

[The  COLONEL  rises  from  bis  chair. 

LENA. 

The  troop  is  up  to  the  fence  now — they  're  just  coming  through 
the  gate,  double  column. 


ARIZONA  19 

COLONEL. 

[Brightly.]      How  are  you,  Lena? 

LENA. 

[Moodily.~\      Well,  thank  you,  Colonel. 

COLONEL. 
Shake  hands.  [He  takes  her  band. 

LENA. 

[Embarrassed  Itttle  laugh. ,]      Huh —      [She  goes  quickly  into 
the  bouse. 

COLONEL. 

[Looking  after  Lena.]      ^11  right,  now  ? 
MR  s.   CANBY. 

[Sullenly]     Not  strong  enough  to  do  much  work.      She  'skind 
of  a  lady's  maid  for  Bonita. 

C  O  L  ON  EL  . 

Too  bad,  isn't  it  ?     She'd  'a*  made  some  chap  a  good  wife. 

CANBY. 

[Optimistically]      In  Arizona,  my  boy,  she  's  worth  a  whole 
hatful  of  dead  ones  yet. 

COLONEL. 

Well,  there  's   C  Troop.      I  '11  put  on  my  blouse. 

[He  goes  into  the  bouse. 
MRS.   CANBY. 

Henry  ! 

CANBY. 

Well  ? 

MRS.   CANBY. 
You  put  on  your  coat,  too. 


20  ARIZONA 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

Why  ?      They  don't  have  to  salute  me. 

MRS.  CANBY. 

It  don't  look  decent,  with   Bonita   around,   and   those  young 
fellows. 

CANBY. 

[G«»£.]      You   bet,    Ma.      Every    day  is   Sunday   when   the 
soldiers  come.  [He  goes  into  the  bouse. 

MRS.   CANBY. 

And  now,  Estrella,  stop  your  mopin'.     You  've  made  your  bed, 
and  you  Ve  got  to  sleep  in  it. 

ESTRELLA. 
Did  I  make  it  ? 

MRS.   CANBY. 

[Aggressively.]      Yes,  you   did.      You  could  'a'  had  most  any 
man  in  California — in  the  army,  or  out  of  it. 

ESTRELLA. 
What  about  Thompson  ? 

MRS.    CANBY. 

He  was  fast  !      That  's  what — fast. 

ESTRELLA. 

[Shrugs  shoulders. ~\     And   a  row,   wasn't  there,  when  young 
Burgess  began  calling. 

MRS.  CANBY. 
He  was  all  upper  lip,  and  no  chin,  like  a  prairie  dog. 

ESTRELLA. 
[  Wearily.  ]      Oh,  yes,  all  wrong  some  way,  but  the  Colonel. 


ARIZONA  21 

MRS.    CAN  BY. 

Well,  I  leave  it  to  you,  wasn't  he  the  best  of  'em — the  whole 
kit  and  boodle  ? 

ESTRELLA. 
Do  I  say  he  wasn't. 

[  The  sound  of  many  horses  on  a  dirt  road  and  a  jingle 
of  sabr'.s  begins  faintly  and  grows  in  volume. 

MRS.    C  A  N  B  Y. 

You  act  like  it,  I  must  say.  And  he  notices  it,  too.  He  rode 
nearly  all  night  to  get  here,  and  the  way  you  appreciate  it,  is  to 
sleep  all  day. 

ESTRELLA. 

Well,  the  troop  will  be  here  to-night,  and  we  '11  be  up  late. 

[The  light  begins   to  change  to  the  golden  yellow  of  an, 
Arizona  sunset. 

MRS.    C  AN  B  Y. 

Why  ?  Your  Pa  an'  me  will  do  the  entertainin* .  You  can  go 
to  bed.  Jes'  you  don't  fret  so  much  about  the  troop  ;  and  while 
we  're  about  it,  Estrella,  let  's  understand  each  other.  There  must 
be  no  goin's-on,  this  time,  with  this  Captain  Hodgman — here. 

ESTRELLA. 
That  talk  bores  me,  Mother,  excessively. 

MRS.  CA  N  B  Y. 

Well,  I  make  it  jest  the  same. 

ESTRELLA. 

You  're  flighty  about  Captain  Hodgman,  and  the  Colonel  's 
alwa/s  harping  on  Mr.  Denton.  [She  goes  up  to  gate. 


22  ARIZONA 

MRS.    C  A  N  B  Y. 

You  've  got  the  best  man  in  the  regiment,  the  boss  of  all  of 'em, 
and  so  don't  get  frisky  with  the  others.  [HODGMAN'S  voice  is 
beard  outside. 

H  O  DG  M  A  N. 

[Outside  the  court. ,]      Right  into  line — 

[COLONEL  re-enters  from  the  bouse  in  uniform. 

COLONEL. 

[To  ESTRELLA,  who  is  at  the  gate]      How  do  the  fellows  look, 

dearie  ? 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 
[Outside.]      Halt. 

ESTRELLA. 

Very  well. 

[The  general  noise  quickly  quiets  and  out  of  it  grows  the 
crescendo  approach  of  two  horses  racing. 

MRS.     C  A  N  B  Y. 

[Angrily]  Now,  look  at  that  !  Bonita  's  a  perfect  harum- 
scarum  whenever  that  fellow  's  around.  [CW/r.]  Bonita  ! 
Bonita  !  Stop  it.  [Horses  slow  down.  Laughter  by  BONITA  and 
DENTON. 

[DENTON   enter*   in   service   uniform,    and  covered  with 
dust. 

DENTON. 

Mr.  Canby  here  ?  Colonel !  [Salutes.  The  COLONEL  returns 
DENTON'S  salute]  Captain  Hodgman's  compliments,  wants  to 
know  where  to  make  camp. 

MRS.   CANBY. 

Why,  the  same  old  field. 


ARIZONA  23 

D  E  N  T  O  N  . 

But  the  home  cattle — 

MRS.     C  A  N  B  Y. 
Our  boys  '11  turn  them  out. 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

Thank  you.  \_He  again  salutes  the  COLONEL,  who  salutes  in 
answer.  DENTON,  turning  to  go,  meets  BONITA  laughing  and  lead 
ing  her  borsef  from  which  she  has  just  dismounted.  He  smilingly 
whispers  to  her  and  disappears. 

MRS.    C  A  N  B  Y. 
Well,  Miss,  it  's  about  time. 

\_A  cowboy  takes  BONITA' s  horse  and  leads  it  away  to  left 
back  of  the  gate. 

BONITA. 

Why,  Mother,  it  isn't  sun-down. 

[CANBY  comes  from   the  house  with  coat  on,  and  hair 
combed  sleek. 

CANBY. 

[Smoothing  his  front.~\      Well,  we're  ready  for  'em,  Mother. 

[BONITA  comes  down. 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 
[Outside  •]      Dismount. 

[CANBY  goes  to   the  well,  puts  one  foot  on  the  curb  and 
arranges  his  trousers  over  his  boot. 

BONITA. 
Colonel,  I  scouted  C  Troop  in  from  Curry's  wind  mills. 


24  ARIZONA 

COLONEL/ 

All  right.      I'll  put  you  on  the  pay  rolls. 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

Miss  MacCullagh  's  with  the  troop,  and  Ma — we  've  planned 
for  me  to  go  to  the  Post  with  Miss  MacCullagh  and  Estrella. 

MRS.    C  A  N  B  Y. 

Not  with  this  C  Troop  there. 

COLONEL. 
Why? 

MRS.     C  A  N  BY. 
Bonita  's  a  little  too  frisky  with  this  First  Lieutenant 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

Why,  ma  ! 

COLONEL. 

Denton  ? 

MRS.    C  A  N  B  Y. 
Yes,  Denton 

COLONEL. 

\_Smiling,~\  Well,  Denton  's  a  splendid  fellow.  Isn't  he, 
Estrella  ? 

[ESTRELLA  turns  away,  annoyed.      CANBY  who  has  come 
down  right  meets  her  back  of  the  table. 

MRS.  CANBY. 

I  know  about  him.  They  ain't  a  piece  of  deviltry  in  the 
Valley,  he  ain't  in  it.  An'  when  he  's  around,  Bonita,  she  's  like 
a  calf  in  a  prairie  fire. 

^BONITA  prances  comically  up  to  tbt  carttte. 


ARIZONA  25 

COLONEL. 

Oh,  boy's  fun.  .   Demon  ?     Why,  Bonita,   Denton  *s  the  best 
cavalryman  that  ever  stood  in  the  saddle. 

[Enter  HODGMAN,  tbrongb  the  gate  from  right.      He  is 
in  service  uniform  and  very  dusty. 

HODGMAN. 

[Salutes  COLONEL.      The  COLONEL  salutes  in  answer.     Bows  to 
others  who  return  bis  bow. 

CANBY    AND     MRS.     CANBY. 

Evening,  Captain. 

HODGMAN. 

Came  through  all  right,  sir ;  men  and  horses  in  good  condition. 
Doctor  Fenlon  and  school  teacher  just  behind  in  the  ambulance. 

COLONEL. 

Very  well,  Captain.      Let  the  men  make  camp  and  get  supper, 

have  everything  ready  in  the  morning,   to  start  sharply  at  eight. 

[HODGMAN  and  COLONEL  exchange  salutes. 

CANBY. 
Colonel,  officers  in  here. 

HODGMAN. 

\_Who  has  started  off J\      No  need  to  trouble,  Mr.    Canby,   we 
have  our  tents. 

COLONEL. 

Oh,  come  in.      It  pleases  Mr.  Canby  and  his  wife. 

MRS.     CANBY. 
Yes,  indeed. 

HODGMAN. 

Thank  you. 


26  ARIZONA 

C  A  N  B  Y. 
Supper ! 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

[From  the  gateway. ~\    I  '11  see  the  troops  disposed  first.    [Salutes 
the  COLONEL.]      Ambulance,  sir. 

VOICE. 
[Outside.]      Whoa. 

COLONEL. 

All  right.      [HODGMAN  disappears.      Noise  of  ambulance  brake 
and  stop  is  beard  outside  with  jingle  of  chains. 
[ESTRELLA  goes  to  gate. 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

Colonel — you  make  Ma  let  me  visit  the  Post. 
[LENA  re-enters. 

COLONEL. 
Of  course. 

[Miss  MACCULLAGH  and  DOCTOR    FENLON    come    into 
gateway.      They  are  very  travei-stained. 

ESTRELLA. 

Miss  MacCullagh,  my  mother  and  father. 
[CANBY  bows. 

MRS.     CANBY. 

How  are  you  ?      [Shakes  hands  and  kisses  her.]      Doctor,  glad 
to  see  you.       [Takes  bag  from  Miss  MACCULLAGH,  hands  it  to 
LENA.]      Now,  you  poor  thing,  come  right  to  your  room.      I  'II 
lock  the  bath-room  door  on  my  side,  and  you  can  git  right  in  it. 
[Bustles  effusively  into  the  house  followed  by  Miss  MAC 
CULLAGH  and  LENA  with  the  bag. 


ARIZONA  27 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

Sit  down,  Doctor,  and  rest  yourself. 

DOCTOR. 

[Who  has  been  limbering  bis  knees .]  Mr.  Canby,  I  shall  never 
sit  down  again. 

COLONEL. 
[Laughing. ~\      Been  in  the  ambulance  since  daylight. 

DOCTOR. 

You  know,  that  school  teacher  's  one  of  the  nicest  girls  I  ever 
saw,  Colonel — not  a  bit  like,  a  school  teacher ;  blushes,  you  know, 
and  all  that.  [Re-enter  LENA  with  bag. 

COLONEL. 

I  hope  you  didn't  make  her  blush,  Doctor. 

LENA. 

[To  ESTRELLA.]      Mrs.  Bonham,  that  lady  says  this  ain't  her 

bag. 

ESTRELLA. 

Where  did  you  get  it  ? 

DOCTOR. 

[Looking  at  similar  hag  in  his  hand.~\  Nobody  said  it  was  her 
bag.  Lena,  that  's  mine.  [Takes  bag  from  LENA  ;  halo's  botb.~\ 
You  're  looking  better.  [Regards  her  professionally.  LENA  is  em 
barrassed  and  goes  into  the  house  carrying  the  second  bag.  ]  The 
idea  of  mistaking  my  New  York  Russia  leather  bag  for  this  miser 
able  Kansas  City  affair. 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

[Laughs  and  goes  toward  bouse. ~\  Doctor,  your  room  is  just 
through  this  hall. 


28  ARIZONA 

DOCTOR. 
[Going.~\      Thank  you. 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

You  and  Mr.  Denton  will  be  together. 

DOCTOR. 
[Pausing.]      Pardon  me,  but  I  can't  sleep  with  another  man. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 
Two  b»ds. 

DOCTOR. 

Oh,  easy  enough.  [Goes  into  bouse. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

[Calling  after  him]      Supper  soon  as  you  're  ready.      Don't 
keep  it  waiting,  girls. 

ESTRELLA. 
[Going.~\    You  ready,  Colonel  ? 

COLONEL. 

[Looking  himself  over  and  smiling.  ]     Well,  what  else  ?     Epaul 
ettes  ? 

ESTRELLA. 
All  right.  [She  goes  into  bouse. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

Come,    Colonel.       [Disappears  with  Colonel   through    door     to 
dining-room. 

[BONITA  goes  to  the  gate,  meets  HODGMAN  and  HAL- 
LOCK,  with  strikers  carrying  packs.  They  give  way, 
smiling.  BONITA  goes  through  gate,  but  remains 
in  view,  looking  off.  HODGMAN,  HALLOCK  and  twv 
strikers  enter  the  court. 


ARIZONA  29 

H  O  DG  M  AN. 

Same  room,  Mr.  Hallock.  [LENA  re-enters  from  bouse. 

H  A  L  L  O  C  K. 
This  way.  [Exit,  followed  by  two  strikers. 

LENA. 

Miss  Bonita. 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

Lena.  [Looks  furtively  back  toward  BONITA,  who  is  not  regard 
ing  him. 

LENA. 

[Shrinking  from  him  with  disgust.  ]      No. 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

Don't  be  foolish,  Lena.  You  see,  the  trouble  *s  all  over,  and 
you  *ve  got  a  nice  place  here.  I  told  you  I  'd  do  something  hand 
some  for  you,  if  you  kept  still,  and  I  will. 

LENA. 

I  kept  still  because  I  didn't  want  my  father  to  kill  you. 
[DENTON  appears  in  gateway  with  BONITA. 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

Ha!  ha!  ha!  You  wait  till  Christmas.  [Chucks  LENA  under 
the  chin  and  goes  into  house  laughing. 

[BONITA  comes  down  with  DENTON. 
[The  yellow  sunlight  deepens. 

DENTON. 

I  understand  your  father  's  going  to  put  us  up  again. 


3o  ARIZONA 

Bo  NIT  A. 

Yes,  you  're  with  the  Doctor — in  there.  [To  LENA.]  In  a 
minute.  [LENA  goes  into  bouse. 

[QUIGLEY  enters  gate  with  DENTON'S  pack. 

D  E  NT  O  N. 

feeing  broom.~\  I  '11  leave  some  of  this  real  estate  outside.  [He 
hands  broom  to  QUIGLEY,  who  brushes  him.  BONITA  retreats  down 
right  centre. ~\  Careful,  Quigley  [as  broom  strikes  back  of  neck"]. 
Little  sunburnt  there.  Thanks  ! 

[QUIGLEY  takes  DENTON'S  pack  into  bouse. 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

\Alone  with  BONITA.]  Well,  what  about  the  visit  to  the 
Post  ? 

BONITA. 

Ma  hasn't  decided  yet. 

D  E   N  T  O  N. 

I  '11  speak  to  her  about  it. 

BONITA. 

[Alarmed. ]      Oh,  no! 

[TONY,  a  Mexican  vaquero,  enters  from  stable,  carrying 
a  horse  bucket. 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

[To  BONITA.]  No  r  [To  TONY.]  Hello,  Tony.  [TONY 
nods  with  a  pleased  grin. 

BONITA. 

You,  'Tenant,  must  pretend  not  to  care  about  it. 


ARIZONA  31 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

/  must  ? 

[HODGMAN'S  and  HALLOCK'S  strikers  return  from  house 
and  pass  out  through  the  gate. 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

Well,  rf//the  gentlemen. 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

Oh!      [ToNY  has  filed  his  bucket  from  the  well  and  started  to 
go]      That  a  horse  bucket  ? 

TONY. 

Yes,  sir. 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

That  Ml  do  me.  [TONY  sets  the  bucket  down. 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

[As   DENTON  kneels   over  bucket  washing  his   hands.]      Why, 
things  are  so  much  nicer  in  your  room. 

DENTON. 

[Pausing.]     Er — a — I  like  the  scenery.      [Smiles — buries  face 
in  bucket. 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

[Also  smiling ,  calls, ]       Oh!   Lena.      f  As   if  seeing  her.]       A 
towel,  please,  for  Mr.  Denton. 

DENTON. 

Oh,  I  don't  need  a  towel,  Miss  Bonita.      What  do  you  think  I 
carry  a  handkerchief  for  ?  [Stands  up. 

[QUIGLEY  returns  from  house. 

QjJ  I  G  L  E  Y. 
[Saluting.]      That  all,  sir  ?      [Re-enter  LENA  carrying  a  towel. 


32  ARIZONA 

D  E  NTO  N . 

That's   all,  Quigley.      Thanks.      [QUIGLEY  goes  out  at  gate. 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

[Taking  towel.]     Hello,   Lena,  glad  to  see  you.     Got  your 
Dad  with  us,  too. 

B  O  N  IT  A. 
But  your  hair. 

D  E  NTO  N. 

Look  bad  ? 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

[Nodding.]     'm  'm — that  is — not  very. 

D  E  NTON . 

Oh — lend  me  a  side-comb.     [BONITA  nods — DENTON  bands  towel 
to  LENA.]     Thank  you.      [Goes  to  BONITA. 
[ToNY  starts  left  with  bucket. 
[SERGEANT  KELLAR  enters  at  gate. 

K  E  L  LAR. 

Why,  Lena  !    [TONY  turns  at  sound  of  LENA'S  name.    LENA^^J 
to  KELLAR  and  kisses  him. 

TONY. 

[Fiercely.']     Who  is  this  man  ?     \_Allbut  KELLAR  look  at  TONY.] 
You  !     You  !     [KELLAR  looks  at  TONY.]     Who  nz  you  ? 

LE  N  A  . 
This  is  my  father. 

[TONY  quickly  disappears  into  stable  carrying  bucket,  while 
DENTON,  BONITA  and  LENA  laugh  at  him. 

K  E  LL A  R. 
\Saluting.~\      'Tenant.      Stables — 


ARIZONA  33 

D  E  N  TO  N. 

[Returning  salute. ~\    Very  well.     I  '11  be  right  out.      [KELLAR 
goes  to  gate. 

KELLAR. 
'Tenant.      [Salutes. 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

[Saluting.]     Sergeant? 

KELLAR. 

Who  is  dat  man  ? 

BON  IT  A. 

That  's  one  of  the  vaqueros. 

KELLAR. 
[Looking  after  TONY.]     Ferricht  ! 

[He  goes  out  through  gateway.       LENA,  suppressing  a 
laugh,  disappears  into  stable. 

D  ENTO  N. 

[Returning  comb  to  BONITA.]      I  have  to  go  now. 
[He  starts  up  toward  gate. 

BONITA. 

Where  ? 

D  E  NTO  N. 

Stables  inspection. 

BONITA. 

But  supper  's  ready. 

D  E  NTO  N . 

[Pausing  in  gateway.]    I  'm  afraid  I  '11  be  a  little  late  to  it,  then. 

BON  IT  A  . 

[Also  going,  but  toward  bouse.  ]     I,  too. 


34  ARIZONA 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

[  Turning  with  complimentary  eagerness.  ]      Eh  ! 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

Must  change  my  dress. 

D  E  N  TO  N  . 

Oh  !      \^A  pause  and  a  negotiating  approach.  ]       Take  me  about 
fifteen  minutes  with  the  horses. 

B  O  N  I  T  A  . 

Take  me  about  fifteen  minutes  to  dress.      \8he  in  turn  takes  a 
step  toward  DENTON  with  challenging  diffidence. 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

Make  us  both  late,  won't  it  ? 

[LENA  re-enters  from  the  stable  and  gets  mandolin  from 
lattice. 

B  O  N  I  T  A  . 
Yes.      What  >  that,  Lena? 

LENA. 

Tony's.      [She  holds  mandolin  up  to  view. 

B  O  N  IT  A. 

Very  well. 

[LENA  carries  mandolin  into  the  stable. 

DENTON. 

Miss  Bonita,  do  you  know  the  most  exciting  thing  that  's  hap 
pened  to  me  since  I  've  been  in  Arizona  ? 

\Tellow  sunlight  begins  changing  to  red. 

BONITA. 

What  ? 

DENTON. 

That  side  comb. 

BONITA. 

This  side  comb  ? 


ARIZONA  35 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 
Yes. 

[BONITA   sits  on   the  end  of  the  table.      DENTON  follows 

with  portentous  intensity. 

BONITA. 

\With  feminine  dissembling.']  Why!  It  's  like  any  other  side 
comb.  May  be  a  little  more  curved. 

DENTON. 

[Lightly,  but  not  misled.']  Well,  perhaps  that  's  it.  Funny, 
though,  to  run  up  against  a  new  curve,  'way  out  here. 

BONITA. 

I  don't  know  what  you  're  talking  about.  [She  smiles  in  com 
plete  confusion. 

DENTON. 

Well — I  don't  know  that  /  do.  [He  walks  away  satisfied  with 
bis  skirmish,  then  resumes  deliberately.']  That  comb —  [Pause.] 
1  've  combed  my  own  hair  ever  since  my  mother  quit  brushing  it 
round  a  broom  handle.  [Pantomime  of  curling  hair  and  pause.  ] 
I  '  ve  used  all  kinds  of  combs — combs  just  fresh  from  the  drug  store, 
and  smelling  like  cologne — I  've  used  combs  that  were  chained 
alongside  of  roller-towels — used  every  kind,  I  guess.  [Parenth 
etically.  ]  And  I  asked  you  for  that  one  more  in  fun  than  anything 
else —  [He  approaches  her  with  voice  lowered  to  an  ardent  tremolo 
and  speaks  with  his  face  close  over  her  shoulder. ,]  but  I  never  can 
tell  you  just  exactly  the  way  I  felt  when  I  used  it. 

[TONY'S    mandolin   is    heard  playing    "  The    Crescent 
Moon." 

BONITA. 

\_After  pause,  during  which  she  turns  to  him  with  some  amuse 
ment  not  unmixed  with  alarm.']  You  're  a  funny  fellow. 


36  ARIZONA 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

[Looking  into  her  eyes.]      Am  I  ? 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

[Slowly  retreating  half  a  step.]      Yes. 

[DENTON  follows  her  almost  imperceptibly.  There  is  a 
moment's  pause,  during  which  there  is  no  adequate  ex 
planation  for  his  not  kissing  her.  Both  sigh,  and 
DENTON  recovers  with  a  step  or  two  to  the  rear. 

DENTON. 

You  know,  at  the    Post,  most  of  us  bachelors  have  quarters  in 

the  same  building. 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

Yes,  I  know  that.       [Very  matter-of-fact. 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

After  being  together  a  while,  we  become  rather  free  with  one 
another's  possessions.  It  's  a  way  we  get  into  in  the  Academy. 
But,  if  we  don't  like  a  chap  pretty  well,  [In  a  tone  of  judicial 
punishment. ]  we  don't  use  his  things.  [Pause.]  Now,  how  do  girls 

feel  about  that  ? 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

[With  Alice-in-  Wonderland  manner. ~\  I  don't  think  they  know 
about  it.  Has  it  been  RsiaififiL?  ^jii^^A*!^  j^  4 

DENTON. 

[Menacingly.]  I  mean,  among  themselves.  Is  the  mine  and 
thine  rather  sharply  drawn  ?  [He  comes  to  her,  his  wooing 

resumed. 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

Yes,  [She  turns,  meeting  his  gaze  with  insinuating  frankness. 
Pause.]  unless  they  like  a  fellow. 


ARIZONA  37 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

[Laughing  nervously.]    Oh!  Kind  o'  human,  after  all. 

B  ONI  T  A. 

\_Also  laughing.]      At  times,  yes. 

D  EN  T  O  N. 

[In  playful  earnestness.]      Any    other    fellow    ever    used    that 

comb  ? 

[BONITA  shakes  her  head,  and  DENTON  smiles  and  turns 

away  much  pleased. 

BONITA. 

^Taking  comb  from  hair  and  regarding  it]  I  haven't  had  it 
very  long. 

DENTON. 

Oh  !  [Pause]  And  I  suppose  there  aren't  very  many  fellows 
passing  this  way  ? 

BONITA. 

[With  affected  innocence]      No,  not  many. 

DENTON. 

[Reflecting.]  Well,  that  rather  cuts  down  my  average — 
still —  [Pause. 

BONITA. 

What  ? 

DENTON. 

Do  me  a  favor  ? 

BONITA. 

Yes. 

DENTON. 

[Really  serious  and  very  near  her]  Don't  lend  it  to  any 
other.  [Pause]  Will  you  ?  [BONITA  purses  lips  in  restraint 
of  smile,  and  slowly  shakes  her  head]  Thank  you. 

[DENTON  smiles  and  turns  with  sigh  of  relief  . 


38  ARIZONA 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

[Taking  second  comb  from  her  hair."]  It  's  pretty  hard,  though, 
to  tell  them  apart. 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

[Quickly. ~\      I   mean  both. 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

Both  !  ! 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

Both.    [Positively.      BONITA  sighs  with  resignation,  sits  slowly 
and  replaces  combs. ,]     Thank  you.      [Starts  up. ~\    Fifteen  minutes. 
[TONY'S  mandolin  ceases  playing. 

BONITA. 

[Quickly.']      Mr.  Denton. 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

[Turning.']      Yes. 

[  The  red  sunset  shows  a  glow  of  purple. 

BONITA. 

[Pause.]  You — you  've  been  around  the  country  a  good  deal, 
haven't  you  ? 

DENTON. 
Quite  a  bit,  yes. 

BONITA. 

[Archly. ]      Have  you  tied  up  very  many  side  combs  ? 

DENTON. 

[Meaningly.]  My  first  pair.  [BONITA  moves  one  step  down."] 
'Tisn't  going  to  be  too  hard,  is  it  ?  [BONITA  looks  at  him  and, 
without  answering,  goes  to  the  table.  DENTON  follows.  Her  face 
is  averted  ;  and  he  leans  on  the  table  speaking  over  her  right  shoulder, ,] 
You  see,  in  this  cattle-law  country,  some  fellows  rope  the  first 


ARIZONA  39 

pretty  creature  they  see,  and  call  her  all  theirs  ;  I  'm  asking  only  a 
little  loyalty  in  the  matter  of  side  combs.  Then,  if  that  doesn't 
fret  her — why — [He  restrains  a  manifested  impulse  to  embrace  her, 
reverently  kisses  a  lock  of  her  hair  and  with  a  sigh  runs  quickly  off. 
A  bell  rings.  BONITA  follows  to  gate  looking  after  him.  The 
DOCTOR,  Miss  MACCULLAGH  and  MRS.  CANBY  enter  from  house 
and  come  down. 

DOCTOR. 
[To  Miss  MACCULLAGH.]      Feel  refreshed  ? 

MlSS       MACCULLAGH. 
Yes,  indeed.      [DOCTOR  indicates  door  to  dining-room  for  Miss 

MACCULLAGH. 

MRS.     CANBY. 

Why,  Bonita,  you  ain't  ready. 

[Miss  MACCULLAGH  goes  into  dining-room. 

BONITA. 

I  'm  not  hungry,  Ma. 

MRS.     CANBY. 

[Going  with  the  DOCTOR.]      I  wish  you  'd  give  her  something 
for  that,  Doctor  ;    the   soldiers  excite  her  so. 

DOCTOR. 

I  '11  give  her  a  soldier. 

MRS.    CANBY. 

Git  out  ! 

DOCTOR. 

Best  /  can  do.    [Goes  into  dining-room  followed  by  MRS.  CANBY. 
[HALLOCK  enters  and  goes  into  dining-room. 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

[Entering    and  looking   about. ,]      Oh — Miss  Canby,   that  was 
supper  bell,  wasn't  it  ? 


4o  ARIZONA 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

Yes. 

H  O  DG  M  A  N. 

Going  in  ? 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

Not  just  yet,  I  must  change  my  dress.      [She  comes  down  from 

the  gateway. 

H  O  D  G  M  AN. 

Can't  improve   on  that.      [BONITA  smiles,    and  bows  a  "thank 
you."       Who  taught  you  to  ride,  Miss  Bonita  ? 

BONITA. 

Pa  says  I  was  able  to  ride  before  I  could  walk.      Anybody  in 
Arizona  who  can't  ride  a  horse,  had  better  be  dead.       [L**gbs. 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

Well,  if  riding  is  the  test,  you  've  a  good  long  life  ahead  of  you. 

BONITA. 

Not  in  Arizona,  I  hope. 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

You  don't  like  it  ? 

BONITA. 

Do  you  ? 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 
[Smiling. ~\     I  have  to. 

BONITA. 

Oh  !   well,  /  have  to — for  a  while,  anyway. 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

[With  apprehensive  look  back.~\      Made  any  plans    for  escape? 
[Lightly. 


ARIZONA  41 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

No — none — [She  takes  the  side  comb  from  her  hair  and  regards 
/'/.]    none — definite. 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

[With  some  earnestness.^  Do  you  know — you — you  've  never 
seemed  like  an  Arizona  girl  to  me — Miss — Bonita  ? 

\_Tbe  glow  of  the  sunset  fades  into  the  pale  blue  of  moon 
light. 

BONITA. 
Oh  !  well,  I  went  to  school  in  'Frisco. 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

Nor  like  a  California  one,  either. 

BONITA. 
Haven't  I  ? 

[ESTRELLA  comes  from  the  bouse  and  pauses ,  overbearing. 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

[Quite  earneitly.~\  God's  country  is  down  East,  just  between 
the  Mohawk  River  and  Long  Island. 

BONITA. 

You  call  that — God's  country,  do  you  ? 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

Yes,  and  it  's  where  God's  loveliest  creatures  seem  to  belong. 
If  you  were  to  spend  one  Autumn  there,  you  'd  be  heart-broken 
over  every  one  you  've  wasted  on  these  ashes.  You  seem  to  belong 
there,  little  girl. 

ESTRELLA. 

\ln  fateful  monotone.']      Oh — Bonita. 


42  ARIZONA 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 
Yes?      [TIoDGMAN  crosses  with  slight  show  of  annoyance. 

E  S  T  R  E  L  L  A. 
[In  lighter  manner. ,]      Why  aren't  you  dressing? 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

I  am  late.     Excuse  me,  Captain. 

[HODGMAN  bows.      BONITA  goes  into  the  house. 

ESTRELLA. 
Captain 

HODGMAN. 

Yes? 

ESTRELLA. 

Of  course,    Bonita  is    one    of   God's    loveliest    creatures,    but 
\Pause~\  if  I  were  you,  I  'd  let  some  one  else  tell  her  so. 

HODGMAN. 
There  was  nothing  in  that,  was  there  ? 

ESTRELLA. 

Something   that,  for  the  moment,  made  me  wonder  if  you  were 
not  the  most  insincere  man  I  ever  met. 

HODGMAN. 

Why! — why  the  young  lady  is  your  sister. 

ESTRELLA. 
That  is  what  /  urge.      You  can't  use  it  in  your  defense. 

HODGMAN. 

Is  defense  needed  ? 

ESTRELLA. 
You  were  trying  to  impress  Bonita. 


ARIZONA 


43 


H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

Yes  ?      \_Paus e.~\      And  your  look  is  saying  that  I  had  also  tried 
to  impress  you. 

ESTRELLA. 

\Rebukinglj. ]      I    am    the    wife    of — your    Colonel,    Captain 
Hodgman.      You  are  unpleasantly  personal. 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

Certainly  not  when  I  spoke  to  your  sister 


ESTRELLA. 

You  were  trying  to  make  Bonita  unhappy  with  her  sur 
roundings. 

HODGMAN. 

The  law  of  progress 

ESTRELLA. 

You  have  taken  the  content  from  my  life  for  your  amusement. 
Let  her's  alone. 

HODGMAN. 

Amusement,  Estrella  !      [Paus e.~\      Look  at  me [Fstrella 

looks  at  him  and  then  looks  away]      I   didn't  say  glance  at   me. 
Look! 

ESTRELLA. 

[Looking  at  him]      Why  !    I  hope  you  don't  think  I  fear  you, 

Captain. 

HODGMAN. 

[Smiting.]  Fear  me — of  course  not.  [Pause]  Now,  don't 
say  I  stole  your  peace  of  mind.  Lethargy  isn't  content.  You 
were  dreaming  here  in  the  hot  sands  like  a  torpid  nestling.  I 
talked  of  the  ocean  and  the  smell  of  the  low  tide,  and  you  began 
to  wake  up — you  breathed  deeper —  [Pause  and  a  slight  movement 


44  ARIZONA 

of  bis  band  before  her  face.] — as  you  are  breathing  now.  [Smiles 
and  watches  her.]  The  languor  went  out  of  your  eyes,  [Pause]  as 
it  is  going  now,  and  your  soul  came  into  them 

ESTRELLA. 
I  have  the  love  of  the  best  man  in  the  world. 


H  O   D  G  M  A  N. 

Which  should  Jill  every  empty  hour,  and  yet- 


ESTRELLA. 

And  I  love  him. 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

Almost  like  a  father.      [Laughs  and  turns  from  her. 

ESTRELLA. 
[Pause.]     You  're  not  a  man.      You  're  a  devil. 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

[Again  catching  her  gaze.]  No!  This  is  the  wilderness,  and 
all  these  things  I  show  you,  but  I  don't  ask  you  to  bow  down  and 
worship  me.  I'm  the  idolater. 

ESTRELLA. 
I  don't  want  yaur  interest. 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

I  love  you — love  you — as  I  'd  love  a  rose — to  look  at — to  in 
hale — to  hold. 

ESTRELLA. 

Or — perhaps — to  crush. 


ARIZONA  45 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

If  it  were  sweeter  so — to  crush  !  [Pause ;  be  looks  at  her 
with  fierce  ardor,  as  awaiting  seme  reply  ;  she  returns  bis  look,  and 
after  a  moment  gives  him  her  handC\  Estrella  ! 

ESTRELLA. 

[After  a  look  to  right. ~\  Leonard  !  [HODGMAN  starts  to  em 
brace  her ;  she  shrinks  back  ;  he  retains  her  hand,  stoops  and  kisses 
it;  DENTON  enters  through  gate ;  ESTRELLA  quickly  withdraws 
hand  ;  HODGMAN  glances  at  her  in  surprise,  and  from  the  direction 
of  her  gaze  apprehends  DENTON.  He  turns. 

DENTON. 
[Saluting.]      Captain. 

HODGMAN. 

Mr.  Denton. 

DENTON. 

That  horse  of  Shannon's — unfit  for  saddle  to-morrow. 

HODGMAN. 

Will  he  do  with  a  blanket  ? 

DENTON. 

Yes,  sir. 

HODGMAN. 

Very  well. 

[HODGM  AN/0 //<?«;  j-  ESTRELLA,  who  has  gone  toward  dining- 
room.  He  again  notes  her  steady  regard  of  DENTON, 
who  has  not  moved,  and  turns  sharply  upon  him.] 
Anything  further,  Mr.  Denton  ? 

DENTON. 

[In  defiant  under  tone. ~\      Only  supper,  I  believe,  sir. 


46 


ARIZONA 


ESTRELLA. 

Come,  Captain.       [She  touches  bis  arm   and  goes.      HODGMAN 

follows  her  to  door  ;  DENTON  comes  to  the  table  ;  HODGMAN  turns  and 

meets  DENTON' s  gaze  ;  is  about  to  exclaim  upon  him  when  ESTRELLA 

again  touches  his  arm.      A  burst  of  laughter  is  heard  in  the  dining" 

room  in  response   to   some  joke  of  CANBY'S.]      Captain  ;    Come  ! 

[HODGMAN  follows    ESTRELLA    into    the    dining  -  room. 

DENTON  stands  looking  after  them. 

CURTAIN 


THE  SECOND  ACT 


}HE  scene  represents  the  interior  of  the 
drawing  -  room  of  COLONEL  BON- 
HOM'S  quarters  at  Fort  Grant, 
Arizona.  The  wall  to  the  left  of 
the  stage  is  occupied  by  a  large  open 
fireplace,  with  inglenook  seats  on 
either  side  of  it,  and  facing  each  other.  A  moose 
head  is  over  the  mantel  sheif.  Below  the  fireplace, 
that  is,  nearer  the  audience,  is  a  big  wooden  settle, 
with  its  back  to  the  wall.  The  settle  is  furnished 
with  sofa  pillows  and  fitted  with  a  shelf  overhead. 
The  wall  space  above  the  fireplace  is  filled  by  a  piano. 
The  wall  facing  the  audience  obliques  slightly  to  the 
right,  so  that  the  right  wall  is  a  third  shorter  than 
the  left.  The  back  wall  is  occupied  by  a  single  door 
to  the  left  of  the  center  and  by  a  large  window  filling 
its  remaining  space.  The  door  opens  into  a  hall.  The 
window  lets  upon  the  parade  ground.  A  smaller 
window  adjoins  this  in  the  left  wall.  All  of  the 
openings  in  the  wall  show  the  regular  adobe  thickness 
of  three  feet,  making  in  the  windows  recesses  deep 
enough  for  chairs.  The  walls  are  stained  a  deep  terra 
cotta.  The  ceiling  is  of  sage  green,  ribbed  by  the 
natural  wood  of  the  beams.  The  settle  and  mantel 
are  sage  green.  Some  framed  engravings  are  hung 
upon  the  walls.  The  furniture  of  the  room  is  simple 


48  ARIZONA 

and  old-fashioned.  The  windows  are  fated  with  green 
blinds  against  the  sash  and  with  sage  green  .-portieres 
flush  with  the  walls.  In  a  jog  of  the  left  wall^  near 
the  auditor ',  is  a  Mexican  loom. 

'The  time  is  midnight.  Outside  is  the  light  of  the 
moon.  Indoors  are  a  couple  of  hanging-lamps  and  the 
light  from  the  fireplace.  A  few  empty  dishes ',  rumpled 
napkins  and  some  spoons  indicate  the  recent  serving  of 
refreshments.  'The  music  of  a  military  band  playing  a 
valse  is  heard  outside. 

DOCTOR  FENLON  is  seated  at  the  fireplace  smok 
ing  a  cigarette.  Miss  MACCULLAGH,  the  school 
teacher ',  stands  beside  him  in  an  evening  gown.  Her 
eyes  snap  and  she  taps  impatiently  with  her  toe. 

MlSS      MACCULLAGH. 
Why  don't  you  smoke  out-of-doors  ? 

DOCTOR. 

I  do. 

MlSS     MACCULLAGH 

Are  you  ever  serious,  Doctor  Fenlon  ? 

DOCTOR. 

Do  you  mean  in  my  intentions  ? 

MlSS       MACCULLAGH. 

I  mean  in  your  life.  I  don't  believe  you  ever  had  a  genuine 
sorrow. 

DOCTOR. 

[Taking  the  cigarette  from  his  mouth. ,]  Huh  !  Laid  down 
three  queens  last  night  with  nothing  against  'em  but  a  pair  of  ten 
spots. 


ARIZONA  49 

MlSS      M AC C U L L AG H. 

[Showing  anger,  as  school  teachers  sometimes  doj}  God  gave  you 
brains,  Doctor  Fenlon.  He  put  your  ears  far  enough  back  to  leave 
room  for  some  perception. 

Do  CTO  R  . 
[Apologetically.}      Can't  see  through  a  pasteboard. 

MlSS      MACCULLAGH. 
And  yet  you  dawdle  your  life  away  over  a  pack  of  cards. 

DOCTO  R. 

Can't  make  'em  take  medicine  when  they  ain't  sick — that  is,  not 
always. 

MlSS     MACCULLAGH. 

Why  not  write  ?  Why  not  read  ?  Why  not  walk  ?  Why,  you 
aren't  even  in  good  physical  condition. 

DOCTOR. 

[Placidly.'}  Oh — you  're  jealous.  [Miss  MACCULLAGH  goes 
out  angrily.  ] 

[SERGEANT   KELLAR   enters  briskly  from   the   left  of  the 
door,  followed  by  bis  daughter  LENA.      LENA  carries  a  tray. 

KELLAR. 

Clean  everything  here,  first,  den  de  porch.  [Picks  up  a  spoon. ~\ 
Here  is  a  spoon  on  de  floor,  somebody  step  on  him.  [Straightens 
spoon,  throws  it  in  dish,  and  goes  out.  LENA  goes  about  collecting 
plates. 

LENA. 

Can  I  have  your  plate,  Doctor  ? 

DOCTOR. 
Yes.     [LENA  takes  DOCTOR'S  plate,  and  starts  out. ]    LENA  ! 


5o  ARIZONA 

LENA. 

[Pausing  in  the  doorway. ~\    Doctor  ? 

.    DOCTOR. 

That  man  doing  anything  for  you  ? 

LENA. 

[With furtive  look  to  the  outside.]  I  won't  let  him  do  any 
thing  for  me. 

DOCTOR. 

[Rising  and  speaking  in  reassuring  tone. ~\  But  you  must.  It 
is  n't  only  of  yourself  you  have  to  think.  Now  let  me  speak  to 
him,  and  make  some  arrangement  for  the  support  of  that  little  one. 

LENA. 

My  father — I  am  afraid  he  will  find  out.  My  father  would 
kill  him. 

DOCTOR. 

But  your  father  won't  find  out. 

LENA. 

You  would  n't  tell  my  father  who  it  was? 

DOCTOR. 

No. 

LENA. 

You  have  n't  told  anybody  ? 

DOCTOR. 
No. 

LENA. 

Because  you  are  the  only  one  I  have  told  his  name. 

K  E  L  L  A  R. 
[Re-appearing  busily. ,]      Come,  Lena,  make  quick. 


ARIZONA  51 

LENA. 

Yes,    Father.      [She  goes    out    looking  back  appealingly  to  the 
DOCTOR. 

DOCTOR. 

Must  compliment  you,  Sergeant,  on  your  part  of  the  entertain 
ment. 

K  E  L  L  A  R. 
[Tentatively.']      Yes.  [The  music  outside  ceajes. 

DOCTOR. 

Could  n't  have  been  smoother  at  Delmonico's. 

K  E  L  L  A  R. 

[With  ill-concealea  pride."]      I  have  worked  at  a  restaurant  in 
Berlin. 

DOCTOR. 

Lena  is  very  handy,  too. 

K  E  L  L  A  R. 

[His    brow    clouding."]      Lena  would  be  a  good  waitress,  but 
it  is  better  she  is  a  striker  for  Miss  Canby. 

DOCTOR. 

Much  better. 

K  E  L  L  A  R. 

Dat  Canby 's  ranch  is  a  nice  place  for  a  girl,  better  dan  a  dam't 
Cavalry  Post. 

[BONITA  appears  at  the  window  with  Miss  MACCULLAGH. 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 
Sergeant  !     Have  you  seen  Mr.  Denton  ? 


52  ARIZONA 

SERGEANT. 
Not  now.      Lieutenant  is  officer  of  the  day. 

[Miss  MACCULLAGH  re-enters  and  joins  the  DOCTOR  by 
the  fireside. 

0 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

I  know.  [Then  complainingly  to  the  DOCTOR.]  But  he  had  that 
last  dance  with  me. 

MlSS     MACCULLAGH. 

Why  don't  you  dance,  Doctor?  [BONITA  leaves  the  window 
and  appears  in  the  doorway^  You  could,  I  believe,  if  you  wore 
suspenders.  [DOCTOR  bitches  up  his  trousers.  BONITA  enters. 

SERGEANT. 

[70  BONITA.]  Ven  are  you  going  to  de  ranch  back  again, 
Miss  Canby  ? 

[Miss  MACCULLAGH  is  talking  animatedly  to  the  DOCTOR, 
who  listens  tolerantly. 

BONITA. 

As  soon  as  Colonel  gets  home  from  this  trip  of  to-night. 

K  E  L  L  A  R. 
You  must  oxgooze,  but  you  take  Lena  ?      Yez  ? 

BONITA. 
Take  Lena  ?     Yes,  indeed,  I  couldn't  do  without  Lena. 

K  E  L  L  A  R. 
Good!     Much  oblige. 

[DENTON  appears  in  doorway.      He  wears  his  side  arms, 
indicating  that  he  is  on  duty. 


ARIZONA  53 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

Forgive  me,  Miss  Canby,  but  I  couldn't  make  it.     Sergeant. 

K  E  L  L  A  R. 
'Tenant. 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

Report  to  Col.  Bonham  that  the  ambulance  is  ready.  [Comes 
to  chair  down  to  the  right  where  BONITA  sits. 

K  E  L  L  A  R. 
Yes,  sir.      \He  goes  out  the  door  and  to  the  right. 

MlSS     MACCULLAGH. 

You  know,  Dr.  Fenlon,  your — your  indifference  to  dress  is  a 
thing  of  comment  in  the  Post  ? 

DOCTOR. 

Well,  that  's  a  God's  blessing  these  dull  times,  isn't  it  ? 

\He  chuckles  to  himself.      Miss  MC.CULLAGH  leaves  him 
and  goes  to  the  doorway. 

MlSS     MACCULLAGH. 

How  does  he  expect  any  woman  to  take  an  interest  in  him  ? 
\She  goes  out,  passes  the  big  window  and  disappears. 

DOCTOR. 

[Following.]  Don't  go  'way  mad.  [He  pauses  at  door.~\ 
Pardon,  Miss  Canby,  but  understood  smoking  was  permitted  in 
this  room. 

BONITA. 

Everywhere.  [DOCTOR  follows  Miss  MACCULLAGH.]  I  be 
lieve  you  didn't  care  to  dance  with  me.  [She  crosses  in  mock 
dignity  to  the  jireplace. 


54  ARIZONA 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

[Following  her.]  You  know  better.  You  know  'way  down 
in  your  wild  Arizona  heart  that  I  'd  almost  mutiny  to  be  with  you, 
don't  you  ? 

B  O  N  I  T  A  . 

Why,  you  don't  even  keep  your  appointments. 

[Music  is  resumed  outside. 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

The  Colonel  's  going  to  Los  Angeles,  and  I  've  had  to  make 
ready  for  him.  But  I  '11  stand  under  your  window  to-night,  and 
I  '11  spend  every  hour  at  your  side  to-morrow. 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

I  'm  going  to  sleep  to-morrow. 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 
Lucky  girl  to  be  able.      I  've  almost  forgotten  how. 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 
Forgotten  how  to  sleep  ? 

D  E   N  T  O  N. 

Yes — I  'm  worse  than  no  soldier  at  all.  There  's  a  girl's  name 
sings  in  my  ears,  and  I  don't  hear  the  bugle.  Captain  's  sent  me 
to  headquarters  twice  in  a  week,  and  I  have  to  take  it ;  because 
what  would  be  a  Colonel's  answer  if  a  man  with  one  bar  on  his 
shoulder  said,  "  I  forgot  parade,  sir,  because  I  was  dreaming  of 
your  wife's  sister  !" 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

[Laughing.]  He  'd  probably  answer  that  you  hadn't  forgot 
ten  to  sleep. 


"Every   Lieutenant  talks  that  way,    Mr.    Demon." 


ARIZONA  55 

D   E  N  T  O  N. 

Day  dreams — Bonita — day    dreams — night    and    day.      Believe 

me  ? 

BONITA. 

I  think  that  's  something  you  learn  at  West  Point.  Every 
Lieutenant  talks  that  way,  Mr.  Denton.  [She  recrosses  to  the  chair 
at  right. 

DENTON. 

To   you  ? 

BONITA. 

To  all  girls. 

DENTON. 

Miss  Canby. 

BONITA. 

Of  course.  Did  you  ever  see  a  girl  near  an  army  Post  that 
did  n't  have  a  gown  trimmed  with  soldiers'  buttons  ?  [She  sits. 

DENTON. 

[Bending  over  her.~^      But  what  of  that  ? 

BONITA. 

Every  button  a  vow. 

DENTON. 

[4rdently.~\  If  each  vow  of  mine  for  you  took  a  button,  I  *d 
have  to  report  in  pajamas. 

[HODGMAN  and  ESTRELLA  pass  the  window  and  come  in 
through  the  door. 

HODGMAN. 

Oh!   Mr.  Denton,  anything  wanted  ? 

V 

DENTON. 

Reporting  to  Colonel  Bonham,  sir. 


56  ARIZONA 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

Oh!  [He  joins  ESTRELLA  at  the  settle. 

BO  N  I  T  A. 

[Noticing  HODGMAN'S  manner  and  rising  sympathetically. .]  Have 
I  made  trouble  for  you  ? 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

[As  she  looks  at  HODGMAN.]  Not  there.  Here.  [Hand  on 
heart.  BONITA  puts  fan  on  bis  lips.  DENTON  takes  bold  0/Y/.] 
Where  are  those  side  combs  ?  [They  go  to  the  window. 

ESTRELLA. 

[With  HODGMAN.]  Don't  talk  about  it,  Leonard,  until  the 
Colonel  has  gone,  or  I  shall  scream. 

HODGMAN. 

But  Estrella,    dear,  only   to  ask  if  you  followed  instructions.    Is 

everything  ready  ? 

ESTRELLA. 
Yes,  everything. 

HODGMAN. 

Good  !  Now,  keep  your  nerve.  In  fifty-six  hours  we  '11  be 
in  New  Orleans,  and  then —  [Music  outside  ceases. 

ESTRELLA. 
Careful — careful — 

[COLONEL  enters  with  Miss  MACCULLAGH  on  bis  arm. 

COLONEL. 

[Laughing.]      Estrella — 

ESTRELLA. 
Yes,  dear. 


ARIZONA  57 

COLONEL. 

Miss  MacCullagh  hasn't  decided — 

MlSS     MACCULLAGH. 
[Trying  to  stop  him.']      Now,  Colonel. 

ESTRELLA. 
What  is  it,  Miss  MacCullagh  ? 

COLONEL. 

{Laughing  and  holding  her  hands. ~\  Has  n't  picked  out  an 
officer.  Now,  I  say,  a  girl  that  can't  find  a  fellow  in  the 
Eleventh,  doesn't  deserve  one.  Even  offered  a  Captain. 
[ESTRELLA  and  CAPTAIN  exchange  glances, 

MlSS     MACCULLAGH. 
'Tisn't  fair,  is  it  ? 

\_Sbe  goes  to  BONITA — LIEUTENANT  HALLOCK  and  YOUNO 

enter  and  join  the  young  people  at  the  window. 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

\Saluting.~\      Colonel. 

COLONEL. 
Mr.  Denton. 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

Ambulance  is  ready. 

COLONEL. 

I  know.      Thank  you.       See  here,  Mr.  Denton,  why  haven't 
you  been  dancing  ? 

DENTON. 

Duty,  sir  ;   officer  of  the  day. 


58  ARIZONA 

COLONEL. 

Oh.  [Pause.  DEKTOK  joins  BONITA  a  moment  y  then  goes  into 
the  doorway.]  Well,  dear.  [TV  ESTRELLA.]  Ambulance  is  here. 
I  'm  going  to  be  excused.  You  young  folks  '11  have  to  get  along 
without  me. 

D   E  N  TO  N. 

Ambulance  here,  Colonel,  or  at  headquarters  ? 

COLONEL. 
Here. 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

Yes  sir.      [Salutes.  ]      Ladies.      [He  bows  and  goes  out. 

COLONEL. 

\At  door  and  looking  after  DENTON.]      Mr.  Hallock. 

H  A  L  L  O  C  K. 
Colonel. 

COLONEL. 

What  's  the  matter  with  Harry? 

HALLOCK. 

Oh,  nothing  serious,  I  think,  sir. 

COLONEL. 

^Coming  back.]  I  want  you  juniors  to  understand  that  I  have 
n't  any  favorite  officer.  Even  my  adjutant 's  a  matter  of  business. 
But,  Bonita,  I  have  a  favorite  protege.  That  boy's  father  and  I 
in  the  Washita  Campaign  made  a  ride  with  papers  from  Custer  to 
Miles,  that  you  '11  find  in  the  printed  records  of  the  War  depart 
ment.  Finished  by  trotting  -  bang — into  Miles' s  dining-room,  on 
the  same  horse.  Denton  insensible — me,  crazy.  Papers  in 
Denton's  water-soaked  boot — cut  it  off —  [Pause.  DOCTOR 


ARIZONA  59 

re-entersJ\  And  right  now,  I  'd  be  willing  to — Well,  just  un 
derstand,  I  like  his  boy.  [Pause. ~\  Now,  what  's  the  matter 
with  him  ?  Come,  I  see  you  know  something,  Doctor. 

DOCTOR. 

Don't  believe  it  's  in  my  department,  Colonel. 

COLONEL. 
But,  what  is  it  ? 

MlSS     MACCULLAGH. 

Poker  !  It  's  that  dreadful  game  you  permit  at  the  Officers' 
Club. 

COLONEL. 

Poker? — 'm — I  had  n't  noticed  Harry  losing  much. 

DOCTOR. 

Only  a  few  hundred,  T  believe,  but — 

COLONEL. 

[Astonished. ~\      A  few  hundred  ?      Gad!      [Pause. 

DOCTOR. 

I  don't  think  it  's  the  money,  Colonel.  Denton  isn't  like 
the  rest  of  us. 

COLONEL. 

I  should  say  not,  if  he  doesn't  mind  the  money. 

DOCTOR. 

He  doesn't  like  merely  vegetating.  I  really  think  Denton 'd 
be  happier  in  some  large  business,  where  his  activity  could  be  en 
gaged.  He  says  a  man  rusts  out  in  the  army. 


60  ARIZONA 

COLONEL. 

Gad  !  If  somebody  in  Washington  had  a  little  backbone,  we 
wouldn't  be  rusting.  [He  goes  to  the  door  and  turns. ~\  Well, 
come,  little  gal,  I  '11  change  my  duds. 

ESTRELLA. 
Excuse  me.       \_Sbe  and  COLONEL  disappear  left. 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

Guess  it  's  about  time  for  us  all  to  go. 

DOCTOR. 
Yes,  nearly.       [Miss  MAC.CULLAGH  goes  out  with  MR.  YOUNG. 

H  A  L  L  O  C  K. 

\Offering  arm  to  BONITA.]     I  might  have  a  minute's  promenade. 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

Yes,  and  tell  me  something  about  Mr.  Den  ton's  losses.  \_Sbe 
goes  out  with  HALLOCK. 

DOCTOR. 

A  few  hundred  covers  it,  Captain,  does  n't  it  ? 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 
Covers  what  ?      [  Walking  slowly  toward  door. 

DOCTOR. 

Denton's  losings. 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 
[Easily, .]      How  should  I  know. 

DOCTOR. 

Oh  !  then  he  's  paid,  has  he  ?  Thought  you  had  a  record. 
Don't  go. 


ARIZONA  61 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

[Lightly]      Think  I  will.      Getting  late. 

DOCTOR. 

But  I  want  a  word  with  you. 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

[At  door.]      Poker  sermon? 

D  O.CT  O  R. 

\_After  lighting  cigarette.]     Woman. 

H  O  DG  M  A  N. 

[Quickly  alert.']  Woman  ?  [The  DOCTOR  nods.]  What 
woman  ? 

DOCTOR. 

Lena. 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

Lena  ?      Lena  who  ? 

DOCTOR. 

Sergeant  Kellar's  daughter. 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

What  about  her  ? 

DOCTOR. 

Professional  secret,  but  I  have  her  permission  to  speak.  [Pause] 
She  says  your  secret,  too. 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

I  don't  know  what  you  mean. 

DOCTOR. 

[Smiling.]  And  you  're  a  cavalryman.  [Pause]  Well, 
Captain,  there  's  a  little  guest  at  the  Catholic  Nursery  in  El  Paso. 
I  told  them  his  board  would  be  paid. 


62  ARIZONA 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

Oh — I  suppose  we  all  contribute  ? 

DOCTOR. 

[Rising  angrily. ]  That  's  very  nasty,  Hodgman,  but  you  '11 
have  to  put  up  just  the  same.  [He  crosses  to  the  fireplace. 

HODGMAN. 
Rot  ! 

DOCTOR. 

Kellar  holds  the  sharp-shooter's  medal  for  the  regiment. 
[KELLAR  enters  and  goes  to  window,  closing  /'/.]  Just  speaking  of 
you,  Sergeant.  Closing  up  ? 

KELLAR. 
Only    this    side,    sir.      Dance    is    over.      Colonel    goes    away 

besides. 

DOCTOR. 

[Watching  HODGMAN.]  Yes  ?  Er — a — Sergeant,  are  you  as 
good  with  a  six-shooter  as  you  are  with  the  carbine. 

KELLAR. 

No,   sir.      Two  men  better  dan  me  wid  six-shooters. 

DOCTOR. 

[Smiling.']      Oh!   Only  two,  eh  ? 

KELLAR. 

Yezza.      'Tenant  Denton  and  Private  Kane,  B  Troop. 
[LENA  appears  in  the  door. 

HODGMAN. 

You  can  go  to  hell,  Fenlon.  [He  turns  on  bis  beg  I  ana1  goes 
quickly  out. 


ARIZONA  63 

LENA. 

[Apprehensively.]      Doctor. 

DOCTOR. 

[Following  HODGMAN.]      Will    you    put     that  permission   in 
writing,  Captain.       [He  disappears. 

K  E  L  L  A  R. 

[Starting  after  them.]    Ha!    They  can't  fight  at  the  Colonel's 
dance. 

LENA. 

Father! 

K  E  L  L  A  R. 

[Turning  in  the  doorway.]     What's   the  matter,  Lena  ?      [He 
again  turns  away. 

LENA. 

Father — 

K£  L  L  A  R. 
[Impatiently. ~\      Yes — yes — yes. 

LENA. 

I  have  found  a  letter. 

K  E  L  L  A  A. 

Found  a  letter  ?      [Comes  back  into  the  room. 
x^ 

LENA. 

From  the  Captain. 

K  E  L   L  A  R. 
His  letter  ? 

LENA. 

To  Missus.      I  saw  him  hand  it  to  her.     After  a  while  /  got  it. 

KE  L  L  A  R. 
Well,  Lena,  that  is  not  your  business.      What  everybody   talk* 


64  ARIZONA 

in  the  Post — you  do  not  hear.  If  an  old  manlike  the  Colonel 
marries  his  granddaughter — let  'em  talk — let  'em  talk.  I  have 
this  told  you  before. 

LENA. 

But  they  are  going. 

K  E  L  L  A  R. 
Who? 

LENA. 

The  Colonel* s  wife. 

K  E  L  L  A  R. 
[Shaking  bis  bead.'}      Only  the  Colonel. 

LENA. 

But  afterwards — with  the  Captain.      I  know. 

K  E  L  L  A  R. 

Sh!     [Pause.     In  lowered  tone.~\     Well,  we  must  pretend  not 
to   know.       And,    when    they    come   back,   still   not  to   know — 

nothing. 

LENA. 
But  not  to  come  back. 

KE  L  L  AR. 
Not  come  back  ? 

LENA. 

He  is  going — that  is  it — forever. 

K  E  L  L  A  R. 

You  talk  foolishness.      Forever  ?      Leave  a  Captain's  pay  ? 

LENA. 

She  is  rich.      Every  jewel  is   packed  up.      Believe  me,  father. 

I   know.      [Produces  letter. ,]     And   his  letter [As  she  gives. 

the  letter  to  KELLAR,  voices  are  beard  in  the  ball. 


ShJ 


ARIZONA  65 

KELLAR. 

\_Tbe   COLONEL  and  ESTRELLA    enter.      The    COLONEL 
bas  bis  cap  and  cape. 


COLONEL. 

Sergeant,  have  my  bag  put  in  the  ambulance. 

SERGEANT. 

It  is  in  the  hall. 

ESTRELLA. 

In  my  room,  the  big  bag.  Lena  knows.  [KELLAR  and  LENA 
go^\  Frank,  dear,  be  careful,  won't  you  ? 

COLONEL. 

\Laughing  and  chucking  her  cbin.~\  Why,  little  gal,  what  's 
the  matter  to-night  ?  Careful  ?  Pulman  car,  fine  hotel,  and  I, 
an  old  campaigner,  who  needs  only  a  blanket. 

[Again  the  music  begins  outside. 

ESTRELLA. 

Yes,  and  that  makes  you  careless.  I  don't  want  anything  to 
happen  to  you.  I  want  you  to  live  for  years  and  years,  and  forget 
what  a  foolish  girl  you  married. 

COLONEL. 

Foolish  girl,  indeed!  Here,  none  o'  that.  Why,  little  one, 
you  mustn't  get  the  idea,  because  I  don't  dance,  that  I  think 
dancing  's  foolish.  Gad!  I  Ve  danced  all  night  and  ridden  both 
days  to  do  it.  Why,  Strella,  you  never  take  a  step  or  laugh  a 
note,  that  your  silly  old  martinet  of  a  husband  doesn't  skip  and 
laugh  with  you — in  Lis  heart — but,  jingo!  after  sixty,  you  can't 


66  ARIZONA 

two-step    this    outline     of    mine    around,     except     by    platoon. 
Ha,  ha! 

ESTRELLA. 

'T  isn't  that,  but  when  you  're  away  and  you  think  about 
me,  I  want  you  to  know  that  I  respected  you  more  than  anybody 
in  the  world,  and  that  I  think  you  're  noble  and  good — 

COLONEL. 

\Burlesquely.~\     Help — help!     Officer  of  the  guard ! 

ESTRELLA. 

And — and — any  mistakes  I  make,  are  because  I  've  been 
spoiled,  and  always  had  my  own  way — and — 

COLONEL. 

Ha,  Ha !  [Stops  her  with  loud  laughter  and  kisses  her  ,-  DENTON 
appears  in  doorway. 

D  E  NTO  N . 

Pardon,  Colonel,  but  had  to  put  mules  to  the  ambulance.  That 
West  bound  train  goes  through  at  three  thirty,  and  two  hours  and 
a  half  isn't  any  too  much  time  for  twenty  miles. 

COLONEL. 

Right.  [Kisses  ESTRELLA  again. ~\  Good-bye.  [He  goes  out, 
followed  by  ESTRELLA. 

COLONEL. 

[Outside.]  Good-bye,  Bonita.  Make  it  a  wing  shot,  if  you 
want  to  kiss  me. 

[T)ENTON  follows  to  door;  KELLAR  enters. 

K  E  L  L  A  R. 

Lieutenant — 'Tenant  Denton.  One  minute,  please.  [They 
come  down  together. 


ARIZONA  67 

DE  NTON. 

Well,  Sergeant  ? 

KEL  L  AR. 

\Handing  letter. ~\  My  Lena — found  this  letter.  She  thinks 
they  mean  to  go  to-night.  [DENTON  reads,  with  an  increasing 
frown. ,]  Missus  Bonham's  horse  is  saddled.  Lena  says,  things 
packed  to  travel. 

DENTON. 

There  is  no  address  or  name. 

K  E  L  L  AR. 
Lena  saw  Captain  Hodgman  give  it  to  Mrs.  Bon  ham. 

DENTON. 

[Still  reading.]      God  Almighty! 

K  E  L  L  A  R. 

'Tenant.  [DENTON  looks  up.]  Lena  says,  a  roll  of  diamonds 
in  a  buckskin,  big  as  my  wrist. 

D  ENTON. 

\_In  disgust.^      Ha!      [Pause, .]      Don't  speak  of  this,  Sergeant. 
[BoniTA  enters. 

Bo  NITA. 

Well,  the  Colonel  's  gone,  and  it  seems  like  the  fun  had  all 
gone  with  him. 

DENTON. 

A  good  deal  of  it  has.  \_Puts  the  letter  in  his  breast  and 
crosses  moodily  to  the  settle. 

K  E  L  L  A  R. 

Orders,  sir  ?     [A  SERGEANT-MAJOR  appears  in  the  doorway. 


68  ARIZONA 

D  E  NTO  N. 

That 's  all. 

SERGEANT-MAJOR. 

Sergeant  Kellar.  Sergeant  of  the  Guard  sick.  You  Ml  have  to 
take  his  place. 

KELLAR. 

All  right.  [The  SERGEANT-MAJOR  disappears.]  Oh!  it  's  a 
dog's  life,  in  the  army.  [KELLAR goes  out. 

B  O  N  IT  A. 

[Regarding  DENTON.^  Is  this  Officer-of-the-day  business  such 
a  depressing  thing  ? 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

Pardon  me.  A  trifle  pre-occupied.  Oh  no,  rather  a  matter 
of  form  in  peace  times,  this  "  Officer-of-the-day  business."  The 
Colonel  goes  in  heavily  for  discipline,  however,  and  I  think  he 
likes  us  to  closely  observe  the  regulations. 

B  O  NITA. 

He  likes  you. 

D  ENTON. 

I  'm  sure  of  that.  Perhaps  you  know  that  he  got  me  my 
appointment  to  the  Academy  ?  [He  crosses  to  where  she  stands  at 

right. 

B  O  N  I  T  A  . 
Did  he  ? 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

[With  emotion. ]  Been  kind  of  a  father  to  me,  always.  I 
couldn't  begin  to  tell  you  all  that  Colonel  Bonham  has  done  for 
me,  and  mine. 

[HODGMAN  in  civilian  dress  comes  quickly  into  the  room. 


ARIZONA  69 

BON  ITA. 

Why,  Captain,  in  citizen's  dress  ? 

H  O  DG  M  AN. 

Yes.  I  thought  I  'dride  as  far  as  the  village  with  the  Colonel, 
but  changed  my  mind. 

D  E  N  T  O  N  . 
\Sullenly. ~\      Couldn't  one  do  that  in  uniform? 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 
Mr.  Denton! 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

\Saluting.  ]      Captain . 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

Send  word  to  that  band-master  to  turn  in.      Get  the  Post  quiet. 

DENTON. 

Yes,  sir.  \_He  salutes  and  goes. 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

Take  me  with  you,  Mr.  Denton.     [She  runs  after  DENTON  in 

comic  affectation  of  terror. 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

\At  the  mantel.~\  By  God,  what  a  finish!  But,  after  twenty 
years  in  the  beastly  service,  with  its  favoritism  and  political  pro 
motions,  the  lick-spittal  's  sent  to  the  sea  shore,  and  I  in  this  sage 
brush  and  alkali.  \Looks  about.~\  And  now,  this  Dutch  girl  with 
more  trouble  for  me. 

[ESTRELLA  appears  in  the  doorway. 

ESTRELLA. 
Leonard. 


70  ARIZONA 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

Estrella. 

ESTRELLA. 
Alone  ? 

HOD  OMAN. 
Alone.  [The  band  outside  stops  playing. 

ESTRELLA. 

It  's  awful,  isn't  it  ?      \_S/ie  comes  down  right  and  sits. 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

What  ? 

ESTRELLA. 
To  go. 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

Awful,  if  you  think  it  awful.      To  me  it  's  life. 

ESTRELLA. 

He  doesn't  dream  of  it — and  he  's  been  so  good  to  me.  Oh! 
if  I  'd  never  known  you,  Leonard. 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

But  you  do  know  me,  and  you  knew  me  as  soon  as  you  knew 
him,  but  he  had  an  eagle  on  his  shoulder  ;  and  youth  and  love 
and  devotion  couldn't  count  against  an  epaulette. 

ESTRELLA. 

Haven't  they  counted,  Leonard — haven't  they.  Am  I  not 
giving  my  immortal  soul  for  them  ? 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

[Bending  over  ber.~^      Forgive  me. 
[BONITA  returns, 


ARIZONA  71 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

They  're  all  gone,  Estrella. 

[HODGMAN  goes  to  tbe  settle. 

ESTRELLA. 
[Rising.]      Yes,  dear — it  's  been  a  long,  gay  evening  for  you. 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

What  's  the  matter,  Estrella  ? 

ESTRELLA. 

Tired  a  little,  dear.  Come,  say  good  night  to  the  Captaia 
and  go  to  your  room. 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

[Laughing.]  Like  a  good  little  girl!  \_To  HODGMAN.]  I 
suppose,  if  I  get  to  be  a  hundred,  I  shall  always  be  «« little  sister  " 
to  Estrella.  Well,  good  night,  Captain.  [Offering  her  band. 

HODGMAN. 

[Shaking  her  hand]  Good  night.  I  congratulate  you  on 
your  evening. 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

Wasn't  it  gorgeous  ? 

ESTRELLA. 

Good  night,  dear.       [Kisses  BONITA. 

B  O  NI  T  A. 

Good  night.  [She  holds  ESTRELLA' s  hand]  I  say,  Estrella,. 
of  course,  you  're  the  chaperone,  but  if  it 's  so  late  that  I  've  got 
to  go  to  bed,  isn't  it  a  shade  late  for  married  chaperones,  and 
captains  with  black  mustaches  ? 


72  ARIZONA 

ESTRELLA. 

Sh!  Bonita,  you  don't  know  what  you  are  saying.  Captain  's 
in  command  of  the  Post  now,  and  there  are  important  subjects  to 
discuss. 

BONITA. 
Ow!   Excuse  me. 

[She  walks  quickly  and  stiffly  to  the  door,  turns  and 
saluteSy  and  runs  out  laughing  heartily.  ESTRELLA 
looks  at  the  CAPTAIN  and  falls  into  the  chair  weeping. 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

\_After  closing  the  door.~\  We  won't  get  very  far,  Estrella,  on 
that  kind  of  mettle. 

ESTRELLA. 
Is  it  best  to  go  now  ?     Is  this  the  time  ? 

H  O  D  GM  A  N. 

The  only  time.  This  trip  of  the  Colonel's  to  Los  Angeles  ;  a 
conference  of  this  department. 

ESTRELLA. 

Well  ? 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

Getting  ready!  The  talk  is  about  over.  We  may  be  ordered 
to  the  front  any  day,  and  then — 

ESTRELLA. 
There  might  be  glory  for  you. 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

[Moodily.]  I  have  a  feeling  that  I  should  never  come  back. 
Officers  are  shining  marks.  You  and  I  would  meet  no  more. 
\Pause. ]  But  if  you  haven't  the  courage — 


ARIZONA  73 

E  S  T  R  E  1,  L  A. 
\_Stoutly.]     There!      [#/j£f.]      I  'm  as  brave  as  you  are  now. 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

Good  !      Then  get  ready  to  ride. 

ESTRELLA. 
I  have  only  my  gown  to  change. 

H  O  D  G'  M  A  N. 

[With  averted  gaze. ~\  And  your — personal  effects — the — the 
jewels — 

ESTRELLA. 

[Smiling  bitterly."]  Here.  [She  takes  a  package  from  her 
breast. 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

Don't  resent  my  remembering  them,  because  they  're  all  we 
shall  have  with  which  to  travel.  Besides,  you  ordered  them, 
remember. 

ESTRELLA. 

Of  course,  Leonard.  Forgive  my  smile.  But  I  resent  anything 
that  seems  to  take  your  first  thought  from  me.  \_Sbe  extends  the 
package  toward  him.]  Take  them. 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

[Walking  away.]  No,  let  's  call  it  off,  Estrella,  if  we  are  to 
be  reminded  that  yours  is  the  money. 

ESTRELLA. 
Nonsense,  Leonard.      [She  follows. 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

And  yet,  at  the  first  necessity,  you  smile. 


74  ARIZONA 

ESTRELLA. 

I  explain  that,  and  say  forgive  me.  [She  again  offers  the 
jewels. 

H  O  D  G  M  AN. 
Oh,  well — [He  takes  them  with  a  show  of  reluctance. 

ESTRELLA. 

Now,  don't  pout,  Leonard,  or  I  shall  break  down. 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

I  won't  then.  Come.  [He  takes  her  band.~\  I  '11  make 
haste  with  my  own  horse,  and  look  after  yours.  There — hurry 
now,  yourself.  [They  go  to  the  door,  HODGMAN  opens  it  disclosing 
DENTON  in  doorway ;  HODGMAN  slightly  starts  back ;  ESTRELLA 
gives  a  little  cry  of  alarm. 

HODGMAN. 

Well,  Mr.  Denton. 

DENTON. 
An  order  came  to  C  troop  stables  to  saddle  your  horse. 

HODGMAN. 

Well  ? 

DENTON. 

I  countermanded  the  order. 

HODGMAN. 

The  order  was  mine. 

DENTON. 

I  countermanded  it. 

HODGMAN. 
Yes? 

DENTON. 

Yes. 


ARIZONA  75 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

By  what  authority. 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

Officer  of  the  day. 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

I  am  your  Captain. 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

Still,  the  horse  won't  be  taken  from  the  stables. 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

This  is  insubordination. 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

It  is  more,  sir,  if  you  persist. 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

What  do  you  mean  ? 

D  E  NT  O  N. 

I  mean  death.       [His  band  goes  to  bis  bolster. 

ESTRELLA. 
Death !      Leonard ! 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

Mr.  Denton,  you  are  using  threatening  language  to  your  com 
manding  officer,  and  you  have  your  hand  upon  your  holster. 

DENTON. 

Holster,  yes — drawn,  if  you  will.       [He   draws    bis   revolver^ 

ESTRELLA. 

Lieutenant  Denton!      You  are  in  your  Colonel's  house. 

DENTON. 

[Speaking  to  ESTRELLA  but   watching  HODGMAN.]      I  'm  glad 


76  ARIZONA 

you  remember  it,  Madam.  I  am  in  my  Colonel's  house,  so  is 
this  man.  I  have  here  his  letter,  arranging  this  departure,  and  if 
he  tries  it,  I  am  here  to  kill  him. 

ESTRELLA. 

No — no!  Oh,  Denton,  don't — don't  make  a  row.  Think  of 
the  scandal.  Think — think  of  Bonita! 

DENTON. 

[In  a  fateful  under t one. ~\  I  am  thinking  of  Bonita,  but  most, 
I  think  of  that  brave  old  soldier  to  whom  I  owe  almost  my  exist 
ence — to  whom,  as  Colonel  of  my  regiment,  I  o\ve  allegiance; 
and  I  swear  to  God,  Hodgman,  if  you  attempt  this  wrong  upon 
him,  I  '11  just  kill  you. 

HODGMAN. 

[Pause. ,]  You  've  got  the  drop  on  me,  Denton,  and  I  think 
you  're  fool  enough  to  shoot.  [Pause.]  As  this  lady's  name  is 
involved,  I  've  got  to  do  what  you  say. 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

Then,  go.       [He  steps  aside,  leaving  the  doorway  free. 

HODGMAN. 

Where  ?     To  my  quarters  ? 

DENTON. 

To  hell,  if  you  care  to,  as  you  told  the  Doctor.  [HODGMAN 
starts  at  mention  of  the  DOCTOR'S  name.  The  men  exchange 
glances.  HODGMAN  takes  a  step  toward  the  door  ^  and  DENTON 
again  interposes^  But,  wait!  [Pause.  DENTON  looks  from  one 
to  the  other.]  There  are  some  jewels,  wrapped  in  a  piece  of 
chamois  skin  ;  I  '11  take  those.  [Pause.  DENTON  extends  bis 


ARIZONA  77 

band  toward  HODGMAN.  HODGMAN  bands  him  the  packet]  I  was 
as  sure  he  had  them  as  I  was  that  he  'd  ordered  the  horses.  Your 
money,  that  's  all. 

ESTRELLA. 
The  world  ought  to  pity  a  woman  who  has  money. 

HODGMAN. 

You  're  devilish  careful  to  have  your  gun  when  you  make  this 
play,  ain't  you,  Denton  ? 

D  E  NTO  N. 

[Replacing  revolver  in  its  bolster.]  A  blackguard  always  ; 
nearly  expelled  from  the  Corps  Cadets  ;  mixed  up  nastily,  after 
that,  in  the  Leaven  worth  papers  ;  and  even  now  there  's  a  woman 
in  this  very  Post  with  a  greater  claim  on  him  than  yours. 

HODGMAN. 

You  pup  ! 

ESTRELLA. 

Whom  do  you  mean  ? 

DENTON. 

I  mean  that  poor  little  girl  of  Kellar's. 

ESTREL   LA. 
[Turning  away  sick  at  heart]      Oh! 

HODGMAN. 

Mrs.  Bonham,  I  swear  to  you — 

ESTRELLA. 

No — no!  I  feel  that  it  is  true.  Oh!  \_Sbe  breaks  into  sobs 
and  leans  on  the  faantel. 


78  ARIZONA 

H  O  DGM  A  N. 

Look  at  me. 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

[Interposing.^     She  won't    look   at  you,  but  I  will. 
Now  go  ! 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

[Stopping  in  the  doorway. ,]  If  Kellar's 'daughter  told  all  she 
knows,  Mrs.  Bonham,  this  gentleman  might  not  stand  so  highly 
with  Bonita. 

P)ENTON  puts  bis  band  over  HODGMAN'S  mouth. 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

That  lady's  name  is  not  for  your  lips. 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

[Pausing    and   witb   defiance. ~\    It  's  to  a  finish,    you — beauty. 
[Goes  out  and  DENTON  closes  tbe  door. 

D  E  N  TO  N. 

[Pause.~^     And  now,  Mrs.  Bonham,  I  want  your  parole.     [He 

goes  to  mantel. 

ESTRELLA. 

Oh,  Mr.  Den  ton,  you  don't  understand.  You  don't  know 
how  desperate  a  woman  may  become  ;  and — it  sounds  empty 
and  foolish  as  an  excuse  to  say  that — a  thing  like  this  has  grown 
— grown  so  gradually  that  the  woman,  herself,  can't  quite  under 
stand  it — and  yet — [Pause,  followed  by  impulsive  outburst.~\ 
Yet,  it  's  as  irresistible  as  any  dreadful  fate  that  comes  to  you 
in  a  dream.  The  will  is  paralyzed  ;  your  feet  don't  step  where 
you  mean  they  should  go.  Oh,  I  can't  explain  it,  and  I  know  I 
seem  like  a  willfully  wicked  woman.  [Sbe  sits  in  tbe  inglenook  seat 
and  covers  ber  face. 


ARIZONA  79 

< 
D  E  N  TO  N. 

[Tenderly.]  I  think  I  understand  it,  Mrs.  Bonham.  I  tried 
to  knock  off  whisky  once,  and  it  was  a  deuce  of  a  pull.  Used  to 
say  to  myself,  "I  '11  bet  I  won't  drink  this,"  even  while  I  was 
pouring  it  out.  Finally  got  so  I  'd  bet  I  hadn't  drunk  it,  after  I 
had.  Then  one  day  the  Colonel  slapped  me  on  the  back,  and 
told  me  to  pull  up.  Stumbled  occasionally  after  that,  but  he  put 
his  arm  around  me,  and  now  I  go  in  for  golf — and  tea.  [Pause. ] 
Most  anybody  can  pull  up  if  the  Colonel  's  with  'em. 

ESTRELLA. 

[Sobbing. ~\      You  're  talking  about  him  just  to  break  my  heart. 

[She  crosses  to  the  window. 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

Yes.  [Pause. ~\  It  ought  'o  break  your  heart,  Mrs.  Bonham. 
He  's  fifty-two,  but  he  is  as  young  as  any  of  us,  and  his  love  for 
you  is  the  talk  of  Arizona.  He  's  as  jealous  as  a  Mexican. 

ESTRELLA. 
I  know  it. 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

He  'dtake  the  life  of  a  man,  if  he  thought  the  man  had  kissed 
your  hand. 

ESTRELLA. 
Yes. 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

You  can't  beat  that  for  a  lover.  And  now,  your  parole. 
Promise  me,  you  'II  never  speak  to  this  man  again. 

ESTRELLA. 
Do  you  think  I  need  to  promise  ? 


8o  ARIZONA 

D  E  NT  O  N. 

Still,  your  word. 

ESTRELLA. 
I  give  it. 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

Your  hand. 

ESTRELLA. 

You  care  to  take  it,  Denton  ? 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

Of  course.    \As  be  takes  her  hand  the  COLONEL'S  voice  is  heard. 

COLONEL. 

[Outside. ,]      Orderly,  fetch  in  my  bag. 

ESTRELLA. 
The  Colonel !  [She  runs  to  the  door  and  locks  It. 

DENTON. 

Don't  do  that  ! 

ESTRELLA. 
Hide,  Denton,  please  !  [She  turns  to  him,  appealing. 

DENTON. 

Impossible!      There  is  nothing  wrong. 

ESTRELLA. 

But  we  can't  explain.  As  you  said,  he  's  as  jealous  as  a 
Spaniard.  Go — in  the  window  a  moment,  and  I  '11  take  him 
away.  Then  you  can  go  out.  It  is  you,  of  whom  he  has  been 
jealous  always.  Never  Captain  Hodgman. 

DENTON. 

Madness  ! 


ARIZONA  81 

COLO  N  E  L. 
[Outside.]      Estrella. 

ESTRELLA. 

Here — here,  Colonel.  [Then  in  a  whisper.']  Please,  Denton. 
Give  me  a  chance  to  retrieve.  [DENTON  dumbly  expostulates. 

COLONEL. 

[Trying  the  door]      Estrella. 

ESTRELLA. 

Yes,  dear,  I  'm  coming.  [She  goes  to  the  door  with  a  last 
appeal  to  DENTON.  DENTON  goes  into  the  window.  ESTRELLA 
ope?is  the  door.  • 

COLONEL. 

[As  be  enters.]  What  Js  the  matter  dear?  You  've  been 
crying  ? 

ESTRELLA. 

Yes,  a  little.      I  came  in  here  and  locked  the  door,  because 

I — I   didn't  want  Bonita   to   see  me.        She  's   been  so    happy 
to-night.      She  wasn't  in  our  room,  was  she  ? 

COLONEL. 

No. 

ESTRELLA. 
Let  Js  go  there,  then. 

COLONEL. 

You — alone  in  here  ? 

ESTRELLA. 

[Faint-heartedly.]      Yes — alone. 

COLONEL. 

Where  's  Denton. 


82  ARIZONA 

ESTRELLA. 

Demon  ? 

COLONEL. 

Yes.  Captain  Hodgman  's  at  the  gate.  He  says  he  saw 
Denton  come  in  the  house.  [ESTRELLA  shakes  her  bead.]  Funny. 
[Pause — looks  at  ESTRELLA  with  growing  suspicion. 

ESTRELLA. 

Well,  let  us  look. 

COLONEL. 

I  *ve  been  over  this  floor.  [Pause, .]  I  wouldn't  like  Harry 
to  know  that  we  stood  doubting  him  this  way,  for  even  a  moment. 
And  I  won't.  [He  goes  to  the  door  but  again  pauses^  in  suspicion. ,] 
But  Hodgman  certainly  saw  somebody.  That  last  batch  of 
recruits  had  one  or  two  gay  birds  in  it.  [He  crosses  to  the  window 
in  the  right  wall  and  looks  out.]  Hodgman  still  there. 

ESTRELLA. 

[  Under  her  breath.]  My  God!  [The  COLONEL  turns  and  sees 
DENTON  behind  the  curtain  of  the  larger  window. 

COLONEL. 

What  !  [Pause.]  Mr.  Denton  !  [DENTON  comes  from  behind 
the  curtain.  ESTRELLA  appeals  to  him  from  behind  the  COLONEL. 
The  men  look  steadily  into  each  other*  s  eyes. 

COLONEL. 

[After  a  moment*  s  pause. ~\      Well,  sir? 

DENTON. 

I  'd  like  until  to-morrow  to  explain  this — matter — to  you. 


ARIZONA  83 

COLONEL. 

Now  !  And  for  God's  sake  be  quick  about  it.  Tell  me  at 
once,  that  I  'm  a  trusting,  old  fool,  betrayed,  as  they  always  are, 
by  the  dearest  friend.  [He  crosses  to  position  between  DENTON  and 

EsTRELLA. 

DENTON. 

No  sir — no  ! 

COLONEL. 

But  the  door  was  locked.  [Pause.]  And  she  told  me  she  was 
alone.  What  other  meaning  is  there  to  that  ? 

DENTON. 

No  other. 

COLONEL. 

What  ! 

ESTRELLA. 

[  Under  her  brea tb.  ]      Denton. 

DENTON. 

Only  that.      Mrs.  Bonham  thought  she  was  alone. 

COLONEL. 

And  you  ? 

DENTON. 

Was  there. 

COLONEL. 

Why? 

DENTON. 

Hiding.    I  heard  Mrs.  Bonham  coming — and — and  I  hid  there. 

COLONEL. 

Why  hide  ?  Why  were  you  in  the  house  ?  [Pause.  ]  Not — 
[He  looks  at  ESTRELLA,  then  at  DENTON.]  There  is  one  other 
lady  here,  under  my  care — a  guest  of  the  Eleventh. 


84  ARIZONA 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

[Quickly   and  somewhat  fiercely.}      Colonel  Bonham! 

COLONEL. 

Well  ? 

D  EN  T  ON. 

[Pause.}      You — you  are  also  mistaken  in  that. 

COLONEL. 

Then  why  here  ? 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

I  '11  answer  you  to-morrow. 

COLONEL. 

You  '11  answer  me  now,  or  I  shall  place  you  under  guard. 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

To-morrow. 

COLONEL. 

Now.  [Pause.  He  goes  to  the  door}  Sergeant  of  the  guard — 
Sergeant.  [He  returns.}  Will  you  answer  ?  In  the  name  of 
the  regiment,  Denton,  don't  force  me  to  do  this. 

[Pause.  Enter  KELLAR  and  tbe  GUARD,  who  come  in  and 
halt  at  command  from  KELLAR.]  Sergeant,  take  Lieutenant  Den- 
ton,  and  confine  him  under  guard  in  his  quarters. 

[KELLAR  salutes.  DENTON  gives  up  his  sword  and  pistol. 
He  takes  HODGMAN'S  letter  from  his  breast  in  an 
attempt  at  concealment. 

COLONEL. 

What  is  there  ? 

DENTON. 

Nothing,  sir. 


ARIZONA  85 

COLONEL. 

Search  him. 

K  E  L  L  A  R. 
\_As  DENTON  demur s.~\      I   've  got   to   search  you,  Lieutenant. 

D  ENTO  N. 

\In  an  undertone  to  KELLAR.]      The  letter — for  God's  sake 

that  letter. 

KELLAR. 

Sh  !      \_He  passes  and  palms  letter. 

COLONEL. 

Well  ? 

KELLAR. 

\_With  his  attention   on  secreting   letter.~\     His  pipe,  I  think. 
No — \He  inadvertently  produces  the  jewels  from  DENTON 's  breast. 

COLONEL. 

What  is  it  ? 

KELLAR. 

I  don't  know. 

COLONEL. 

Open  it. 

[KELLAR  opens  the  jewel  roll.  COLONEL  sees  contents, 
takes  it,  looks  at  his  wife.  DENTON  quickly  signah 
silence.  ESTRELLA  affects  astonishment. 

COLONEL. 

Sergeant,  wait  outside. 

[KELLAR  goes  out  with  guard.^      Yours,  ain't  they  ? 

ESTRELLA. 
I  think  they  are — but — 


86  ARIZONA 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

[Interrupting.]      Mrs.    Bonham  — 

COLONEL. 

[  Turning  fierc  ely  upon  him.]      Well,  Mr.  Denton. 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

Well,  sir. 

COLONEL. 
How  do  you  come  by  the  possession  of  these  ? 

DENTON. 

I  decline  to  answer. 


COLONEL. 

You  do  ? 

DENTON. 
I  do. 

COLONEL. 

Your  refusal  will  leave  but  one  inference.  [Pause]  And, 
damme,  that  's  impossible!  Why  should  an  officer  of  this  regi 
ment  steal  ?  [Pause]  Can't  you  speak  ?  [Pause]  Mr. 

Denton. 

DENTON. 

I  've  nothing  to  say,  sir. 

COLONEL. 

An  officer  of  the  Eleventh  —  [He  breathes  heavily.]  And  every 
one  of  'em  's  been  like  a  member  of  my  family.  [Pause]  I  start 
out  for  a  journey.  The  orderly  rushes  after  me  with  a  telegram, 
calling  it  off.  I  turn  right  back,  and  find  —  this!  [Pause  and  per 
plexed  glance  wavering  between  his  wife  and  the  jewels  which  he 
holds]  I  've  been  told  to-night  that  you  needed  money  —  poker 


THE  COLONEL 


ARIZONA  87 

losses — but  why  not  come  to  me  ?  [Looks  suspiciously  at  bis  wife.  ] 
You  have  either  committed  a  theft,  Mr.  Denton,  or  your  presence 
.here  implies  dishonor  in  this  family.  [Regards  ESTRELLA  distrust- 

fully. 

DENTON. 

[Quickly. ]      Not  that,  sir — no. 

COLONEL. 

[Turning  upon  DENTON  in  almost  rending  anger. .]      The  thief, 

then. 

ESTRELLA. 

He  's  not  a  thief.  Those  trinkets!  [DENTON  starts  to  expostu 
late.  ]  I  don' t  care — 

COLONEL. 

I  don't  care  for  them,  either.  If  I  owned  them,  I  'd  give 
them  all  to  know  that  he  was  completely  innocent.  [Pause  and 
a  return  to  DENTON.]  Denton,  I  knew  your  father.  [Pause] 
I  can't  try  his  boy  on  so  detestable  a  charge.  Don't — don't  make 
me  do  it.  [The  men  look  at  each  other  for  a  moment^  and  the 
COLONEL'S  tone  softens.]  You  've  been  sullen  and  indifferent 
lately.  You  don't  like  your  duty.  I  'm  afraid,  my  boy,  the 
army  isn't  the  place  for  you. 

DENTON. 

[Slowly  apprehending. J      What  do  you  mean,  sir? 

COLONEL. 

I  mean  you  ought  to  try  something  else.  The  only  way  out 
of — [Another  waver  between  the  wife  and  the  jewels.]  this  thing 
is  for  you  to  resign. 

ESTRELLA. 

\_Half  hysterically.]  No,  Colonel,  no!  [She  throws  herself 
on  his  breast,  sobbing  helplessly. 


88 


ARIZONA 


COLONEL. 

[Looking  first  at  DENTON,  then  down  at  her  with  half-closed 
eyes,  that  indicate  suspicion  ;  then  searchingly  at  DENTON  again. ^ 
Your  resignation — write  it!  [He  points  to  the  writing  table. 

[DENTON  pauses,  walks  to  writing  table,  turns  in  dumb 
appeal  to  the  COLONEL,  and  sits.  The  COLONEL 
glances  a  moment  at  the  woman  who  is  sobbing  on  his 
shoulder,  then,  with  a  look  of  disgust  at  the  jewels, 
pushes  her  roughly  from  him  and  dashes  the  jewels  on 
the  floor. 

ESTRELLA. 
[With  a  step  toward  DENTON  and  a  broken-hearted  cry.  ]      Oh, 

Denton ! 

[DENTON  rises  and  turns  toward  her. 

COLONEL. 

[Turning  fiercely  upon  them.~\  What  is  it  ?  [ESTRELLA  sinks 
into  .a  chair.  DENTON  sits  at  table  and  quickly  writes  his 
resignation. 

CURTAIN 


THE  THIRD  ACT 


HE  scene  represents  the  interior  of  the 
dining-room  at  CANBY'S.  There  are 
doors  in  the  walls  right  and  left, 
and  a  door  and  window  in  the  back 
wall.  All  these  openings  show  the 
three-foot  thickness  common  to  walls  of  adobe  con 
struction.  Through  the  back  door  and  window 
appear  the  court  in  which  the  first  act  took  place 
and  the  stable  beyond  it.  The  walls  of  this  dining- 
room  have  been  white-washed,  but  are  now  a  smoky 
.and  uneven  grey.  T'wo  or  three  prints  of  game  and  a 
powder  company's  advertising  calendar  hang  about, 
and  there  is  a  profusion  of  Apache  pottery,  woven 
baskets  and  Indian  trophies  on  shelves  over  the  doors 
and  window.  Some  Avajo  blankets  are  on  the.  floor 
for  rugs.  An  olla  of  drinking  water  hangs  outside  the 
door.  1*0  the  right  is  a  home-made  dresser.  In  the 
center  is  a  heavy  dowelled  table.  There  are  also  four 
>or  five  heavy  square  dowelled  chairs,  with  seats  and 
backs  of  cowhide,  from  which  the  hair  has  not  been 
removed.  LENA  is  setting  the  table  for  luncheon,  while 
TONY,  the  vaquero,  sits  in  the  deep  adobe  window, 
singing  to  the  accompaniment  of  his  mandolin. 


90  ARIZONA 

TONY. 

[Singing. 

Del  cielo  la  estrella  Brillante, 
El  viento  que  viene  del  mar, 
Sabiendo  tu  perfidia  te  adora, 
Porque  lo  llama  locura  ? 

LENA. 

That  Js  a  pretty  song. 

TONY. 

I  make  this  song. 

LENA. 

What  does  it  mean  ? 

TONY 

Major-Domo  tell  me  'Merican  words. 

LENA. 

Did  he  ?     Well,  sing  them. 
[TONY  sings. 

The  heavenly  star  far  above  her, 
The  wind  of  the  infinite  sea, 
Who  know  all  her  perfidy,  love  her, 
Then  why  call  it  madness  in  me  ? 

LENA. 

{Excitedly.'}     Stop. 

TONY. 

What  is  the  matter  ? 

LENA. 

You  sang,  «  who  know  all  her  perfidy.        Are  you  singing  about 
me? 

TONY. 
What  is  perfidy  ?       Jn  Spanish  means,  "she  break  my  heart." 


ARIZONA  91 

LENA. 

Perfidy  is  terrible. 

TONY. 

Is  cuss  word,  like  go-damn  ? 

LENA. 

[Regaining    self-control.]      No,     Tony,     I    am    foolish — it   is 
nothing.      [She  sits  to  the  left  of  the  table. 

TONY. 

[Brav ely]    Because,  when  it  is  cuss  word,  I  make  it.    [Fiercely.] 
Go-dam  !     I  love  you  ! 

LENA. 

Oh!  Tony  ;   no — no. 

TONY. 

[^uite  calm  again.]      Yes — yes. 

LENA. 

[Tearfully]    What  right  have  I  to  be  loved  by  anybody  ? 

TONY. 

I  go  with  soldiers.      Speaky  Spanish.       When  I  come  back,  you 
be  my  wife — Tony  Mostano,  best  vaquero  in  all  the  world. 

LENA. 

When  do  the  soldiers  go,  Tony  ? 

TONY. 

Damn  'f  I  know. 

LENA. 

Tony,  you  mustn't  swear  so. 

TONY. 

Oh,  well,  when  I  learn  '  Merican,  I  learn  good,  bad  together — 


92  ARIZONA 

no  difference  to  me.  [TONY  plays  "  Lieber  Augustin"  wooingly, 
with  Spanish  time,  grinning  at  LENA.]  Lena,  your  father  is  a 
Dutchman. 

LENA. 

[Smiling  as  she  resumes  her  zvork.~\  Oh,  yes!  and  that  's  a 
German  tune. 

TONY. 

\Growing  graver  and  shifting  his  tune  back  to  the  melody  of  his 
ballad.]  When  I  come  back,  I  build  for  you  a  shack.  Not  one 
room,  like  vaquero  shack  ;  two  rooms,  with  bench  on  East,  where 
shadow  comes.  My  mandolin — and  damn-to-hell-my-soul,  I  love 
you. 

LENA. 

Tony! 

TONY. 

You  live  with  me  in  'dobe  shack  ?     You  be  my  wife  ? 

LENA. 

I  couldn't,  Tony,  I  couldn't. 

TONY. 

[Fiercely]  What  you  want  ?  A  Dutch  fall-off- his-horse 
Corp'ral  ?  I  shall  stay  awake  night,  forever  ?  No!  No! 

[BONITA    and  MRS.  CANBY   come  in   by  the  door,  left. 
TONY  disappears. 

MRS.    CANBY. 

\_Catching  sight  of  the  Jleeing  lover.  ~\     Lena. 

LENA. 

Yes,  ma'am. 

MRS.   CANBY. 

[Severely.]     What  man  was  tha"  ? 


ARIZONA  93 

LENA. 

Tony. 

MRS.       C  A  N  B  Y. 

Well,  the  men  don't  belong  in  the  court,  Lena.  You  must  tell 
them  not  to  come  beyond  the  stables.  I  wish  they  *d  get  their 
blamed  regiment  done,  and  go. 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

Ma  doesn't  mean  by  that,  Lena,  that  if  there  's  any  one  of 
them  you  care  to  see,  he  can't  come,  when  your  work  is  done. 

LENA. 

There  is  none  I  care  to  have  come. 

[DENTON  appears  in  the  door  at  back.       He  is  in  cowboy 
attire,  with  leather  ' '  chaps. ' ' 

MRS.       C  A  N  B  Y. 

Is  it  a  round-up  ? 

DENTON. 

No,  not  a  herd  of  any  kind.      It  's  the  regulars. 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

[Brightly.']      The  Eleventh  ? 

DENTON. 

I  think  so.  What  's  the  matter  with  Tony  ?  [BONITA  turns 
and  looks  at  LENA.]  Oh!  [Pause  and  smile.~^  What  is  it,  Lena  ? 

LENA. 

He  was   playing  his   mandolin [She  stops  in  embarrassment 

and  runs  out  of  the  doory  right. 

DENTON. 

She  might  do  worse  than  Tony.  He  wants  to  quit  again,  and 
I  'd  rather  lose  most  any  man  from  the  company  than  Tony. 


94  ARIZONA 

MRS.      C  A  N  B  Y. 

I  '11  see  him  myself.  I  promised  Estrella  I  'd  look  after  Lena  ; 
and  if  Tony  's  in  earnest  she  '11  have  to  marry  him.  [She  disap 
pears  into  the  court  after  TONY. 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

You  say  the  Eleventh  is  coming,  Major-Domo  ? 

D  E  NT  O  N  . 

Yes,  ordered  to  the  Gulf,  I  believe.  [He  lays  bis  bat  and 
gauntlets  on  the  window-sill. 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

Then  they  won't  need  the  volunteers,  will  they  ?  [She  sits  at 
right  of  table. 

D  EN  T  O  N. 
Yes,  miss.      [He  comes  down  beside  her. 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

But  why  do  you  go  ?  Pa  needs  you  here.  He  says  you  're 
the  best  Major-Domo  the  ranch  ever  had. 

D  E  NTO  N. 

[<SW^.]  But  I  'm  not  a  cattle-man  at  heart,  Miss  Canby. 
When  I  quit  the  service,  I  wasn't  needed.  But,  with  war  in 
sight,  and  the  President  calling  for  men,  a  chap  that  's  had  his 
bread  and  butter,  and  everything  he  knows  in  the  world,  given  him 
by  his  country,  can't  hang  back.  [He  goes  behind  tbe  table  and 

to  tbe  left. 

BONITA. 
You  're  only  one. 

D  E  NTO  N. 
Yes,  but  the  only  one  among  these  cowboys  with  the  knowledge 


ARIZONA  95 

that  can   help   them.     It  's   no  use,  Miss.     The   boys  like   me. 
They  've  'lected  me  Captain  of  a  company,  and  I  've  got  to  go. 

Bo  N  I  T  A. 

You  may  be  killed  if  you  go.     [She  rises  and  comes  in  front  of 

table. 

D  ENTO  N. 

And  if  I  didn't  go,  I  could  never  look  you  in  the  eyes  again. 
Don't  turn  away.  We  may  march  to-morrow.  If  I  stayed  behind, 
wouldn't  you — even  you — despise  me  ?  [He  comes  near  her. 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

Go.     [She  gives  him  her  band,  but  as  he  takes  it  she  sways  with 

faintness. 

D  E  NTO  N. 

[Sustaining  her.]  Bonita.  [She  regains  herself ,]  Does  it  make 
such  difference  to  you  ? 

BONITA. 

Will  you  answer  me  one  question  truly  ?  [She  gently  pushes 
him  from  her. 

D  E  NT  O  N . 
Yes. 

BONITA. 

When  you  left  the  service,  why  did  you  come  here  ? 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

[Pause.~\     It  was  out  of  doors.      It  was  in  the  saddle. 

BONITA. 

Why  did  n't  you  go  to  Dunlap's,  or  to  Eraser's  ranches  ? 

D  E  N  TO  N. 

[Avoiding  her  gaze."]      Oh — 


96  ARIZONA 

B  O  N  IT  A. 

Truthfully. 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

\_Witb  reserve. ~\      Because  I  wished  to  be  near  you. 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

Why  ?  [DENTON  turns  from  her  and  does  not  reply. ~\  You  had 
more  courage  in  your  uniform,  didn't  you  ? 

DENTON. 

I  had  more  right. 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

Do  you  mean  that  that  was  because  you  were  not  on  my 
father's  pay-roll  ? 

DENTON. 

I  mean,  Miss  Canby,  that — \_Pause.~\ — that  I  am  here.  That 
I  should  have  been  stronger  than  to  have  come.  That  I  should 
have  ridden,  as  you  suggest,  to  Eraser's  or  to  Dunlap's.  [He  again 
turns  away,  unable  to  express  himself. 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

At  the  Post,  on  the  night  of  my  dance,  you  told  me  that  you 
would  almost  mutiny  to  be  with  me. 

DENTON. 

Yes. 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

When  you  first  came,  I  thought  you  had  left  the  army — because 
of  me.  \Pause.~\  Pa  thought  so,  too.  And  then — \Pause.~\  You 
never  said  anything,  and  when  the  old  Major-Domo  was  killed  at 
Wilcox,  and  Pa  gave  you  his  place,  I  thought  maybe  you  'd  be 
more  like  your  old  self;  because,  on  a  ranch,  a  Major-Domo  is 
really  a  Captain.  But  you  still  seemed  to  avoid  me — 


ARIZONA  97 


D  E  N  T  O  N. 

[Expostulating.'}      Miss  Canby — 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

And    that   kind   o'    hurts   a   girl's   pride.     I   wrote  to  Estrella 

about  it. 

D  E  N  TO  N. 

About  what  ? 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

All  of  it — your  silence,  your  avoidance  of  your  old  comrades. 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

To  Mrs.  Bonham  ? 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

Yes,  and  Estrella  answered — [Pause.} — that  you  were  the 
bravest  and  most  honorable  man  she  ever  knew. 

[DENTON  passes  her  with  a  gesture  of  expostulation  and 
goes  right. 

B    O  N  I  T  A. 

[Following  slightly. ~\  I  know  I  'm  insistent  and  unwomanly 
now,  but  I  didn't  hunt  you,  Mr.  Denton.  You  went  out  of 
your  way  to  make  me  care  for  you ;  and  now,  you  can't  ride  to 
war,  and  be  silent.  Even  a  girl  has  some  rights. 

DENTON. 

Why,  God  help  me,  I  love  you.  [He  turns  impulsively, 
abandoning  all  self-retraint  and  embraces  her. 

CANBY. 

[Out  side. ~\  All  right,  Tony,  tell  us  as  soon  as  you  can  make 
'em  out.  [DENTON  goes  to  the  dresser.  BONITA  sits  right  of  table. 
CANBY  appears  in  door  at  back.~\  You  see  those  soldiers  ? 


98  ARIZONA 

D    E   N  T  O  N. 
Yes,  sir.       £CANBY  enters,  followed  by  MRS.  CANBY. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

On  the  move,  at  last.  Means  business.  [He  rings  a  small 
tap-bell  on  the  table.~\  Like  as  not,  Ma,  the  Colonel  Ml  come 
back  a  General.  J^SAM,  the  Chinaman,  enters  right, ,]  Sam,  we 
want  you  to  hurry  up  lunch.  We  ']!  ask  the  officers  to  eat  with 
us,  Ma. 

MRS.    CANBY. 
'Bout  all  we  can  do  for  Jem  in  this  God-forsaken  country. 

CANBY. 

Get  up  stuff  for  about — [To  DENTON] — How  many  officers  do 
you  suppose  there  are  in  that  column  ? 

DENTON. 

Those  are  only  the  four  troops  from  Fort  Grant.  Say  fifteen 
officers. 

SAM. 
Fifteen  ?     Lunch  ? 

CANBY. 

Yes,  and  put  a  case  of  champagne  in  a  tub,  and  chink  it  full  of 
cracked  ice  and  salt. 

SAM. 

Yes,  sa.      [He  disappears  by  door,  right. 

MRS.    CANBY. 
I  '11  change  my  dress.      [She  disappears  left. 

CANBY. 

[Smiling  broadly.']  Mother  's  been  itching  for  a  chance  tt  one 
o*  them  new  dresses. 


ARIZONA  99 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

Mr.  Canby. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

Major-Domo.     [He  comes  down  left  of  table. 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

Have  you  ever  thought  that — anybody  around  the  ranch  might 
get  interested  in — in  your  daughter  ? 

CANBY. 

[After  long  pause. ~\      Yes — at  times. 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

Ever  thought  that — I  might  ?  [CANBY  reaches  to  bis  hip  pocket; 
DENTON'S  hand  quickly  drops  to  his  revolver.  CANBY  draws  a 
tobacco  pouch,  and  DENTON  sighs  with  relief. 

CANBY. 

Yes.       [Takes  a  chew  of  tobacco. 

DENTON. 

Well,  sir,  I  have.  [CANBY  nods,  walks  slowly  back  of  table, 
keeping  his  eye  searchingly  on  DENTON. J  Have  you  any  objection, 
sir  ?  [Pause  ;  CANBY  shakes  his  bead.]  I — I  've  been  talking  to 
her.  I  've  told  her  I  love  her — and — and  she  's  been  good 
enough  to  admit  that  she  loves  me,  sir. 

[CANBY  pauses  a  moment,  leans  over  and  rings  bell.  He 
then  walks  deliberately  to  the  door.  DENTON  crosses 
to  left  of  table,  observing  him.  At  the  door  CANBY 
takes  a  cup  of  water  from  the  olla  and  rinses  bis 
mouth. 
[SAM  enters,  right. 


ioo  ARIZONA 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

Sam  !  Bring  a  bottle  of  champagne — right  now.  [SAM  dis 
appears. 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

[Running  to  him  as  be  comes  to  the  table '.]  Oh!  Pa.  [CANBY 
embraces  her,  with  a  swing  toward  the  chair  left,  and  comes  in  front 
of  table. 

CANBY. 

Sit  down,  kitten.      Major-Domo —     [BONITA  ////. 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 
Yes,  sir. 

CANBY. 

I  've  lived  here  and  sold  beef  to  Government  and  Apaches  for 
thirty  years.  [DENTON  nods.~^  Lots  of  'em  have  tried  to  drive 
herds  in  here,  and  steal  a  march  on  me,  but  whenever  they  reached 
the  Posts  or  the  Agencies,  Canby's  cattle  was  usually  there  ahead  of 
them.  [He  strikes  the  table,  emphatically. 

DENTON. 
Yes,  sir. 

CANBY. 

Nobody  's  made  a  move  in  this  valley — twenty  miles  from  peak 
to  peak,  and  two  days  in  the  saddle  up  and  down — that  I 
wasn't  on. 

DENTON. 
Yes,   sir. 

CANBY. 

So  it  's  a  pretty  safe  bet  that  I  'd  tumble  to  whatever  was  doin' 
in  this  'dobe  corral,  ain't  it.  [DENTON  nods. 

[SAM  brings  in  a  quart  of  champagne  and  three  glasses. 


"Sam  !      Bring  a  bottle  of  champagne  !" 


ARIZONA  101 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

[To    SAM.]      Open   it.       \_Tben  to   DENTON.]     And  you   *ve 
suited  me  from  start  to  finish. 


DENTON. 

Thank  you,  Mr.  Canby. 


C  A  N  B  Y. 

One  year,  I  may  make  a  hundred  thousand  dollars.  The  next, 
I  may  be  broke.  [He  takes  the  bottle  from  SAM  and  motions  him 
to  go.  SAM  disappears  into  the  pantry,  right.]  It  all  depends  on 
the  weather,  and  Congress.  Give  us  plenty  of  rain,  and  a  tariff 
that  a  Mexican  heifer  can  climb  over,  and  we  're  all  right. 
[Hands  a  glass  of  wine  to  DENTON.]  God  has  charge  of  the  rain. 
[Hands  a  glass  to  BONITA.]  Blast  me,  if  I  know  whose  depart 
ment  the  tariff  's  in.  Well,  here  's  luck.  [They  drink.]  My 
boy,  up  to  this  time  you  've  been  on  a  salary.  Now,  you  're  a 
half  owner. 

DENTON. 

Mr.  Canby. 

CANBY. 

I  've  just  been  waitin'  for  you  and  Bonita  to  get  together.     [He 
places  bis  glass  on  the  table  and  walks  right. 

DENTON. 

[Sadly.]     I  can't  stay,  sir. 

CANBY. 

[Slowly  returning  to  the  table  and  putting  an  arm  around 
BONITA.]  She  's  told  you  she  loves  you,  and  you  're  goin'  just 

the  same  ? 

DENTON. 

I  must. 


102  ARIZONA 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

[Persuading.^  The  other  girl,  Estrella,  had  half  a  million 
when  she  married,  and  this  one  hasn't  got  any  the  worst  of  it. 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

'Tain't  money,  sir.  My  old  messmates  at  the  'Cademy  are 
going  with  their  lives.  It  may  be  kind  o'  silly  to  you,  but  the 
flag  to  which  I  was  taught  to  take  off  my  hat,  that  's  going,  too. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

And  damme,  if  I  had  twenty  years  off  my  shoulders,  I  'd 
go  myself.  [70  BONITA.]  How  is  it,  kitten,  we  send  him, 
do  we  ? 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 
[Faintly.']      Yes. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

Bully  !      Go  get  that  finery. 

D  E  NTO  N. 
Finery  ? 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

Your  old  first  Lieutenant  shoulder  straps.  /  cut  'em  from  your 
jacket,  and  sbe  9s  sewed  on  an  extra  bar  of  braid.  [BONITA  gets  a 
cavass  coat  from  the  wall^\  Now,  brand  him  a  Captain  of  Arizona 

Volunteers. 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

Not  this  coat.      [BONITA  helps  him  put  it  on. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

Yes,  let  's  see  how  it  looks.  [Passes  wine.~\  You  might 
V  been  with  these  Regulars,  but  your  're  doin'  the  next  best 
thing — and  you  go  heeled.  Yes,  sir,  you  go  half  owner  of  the 
fattest  ranch  in  Arizona.  [CANBY  drinks.  BONITA  gets  close  to 


ARIZONA  103 

DENTON,  and  both  drink  from  the  same  glass  simultaneously.^ 
Now,  lad,  come  back  a  colonel  if  you  kin.  I  say  that  for 
Bonita,  because,  as  far  as  she  's  concerned,  there  's  only  one  sand 
storm  ahead  of  you.  \He  crosses  to  the  door  left. 

DENTON. 

What  's  that,  sir? 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

Mrs.    Canby. 

DENTON. 

Mrs.  Canby  ? 

CANBY. 

Yes.  Ma  don't  care  a  heap  about  leather,  but  she  loves  gold 
braid.  There  's  hardly  anything  in  the  world  she  won't  trade 
even  for  a  string  of  soldier  buttons. 

DENTON. 
'M. 

CANBY. 

\Moodily. ~\  She  fixed  up  Estrella's  match  with  the  Colonel. 
That  wasn't  my  kind,  and  now,  well — they  ain't  much  more  *n 
speakin'  to  each  other. 

DENTON. 

Too  bad  !      I  thought  them  most  devoted. 

CANBY. 

They  were.  The  trouble,  whatever  it  is,  is  since  you  've  been 
here.  [TONY  appears  at  the  window. 

TONY. 

Governor  !      Governor  ! 

CANBY. 

Well,  Tony  ? 


104  ARIZONA 

TONY. 

The   soldiers   comin'  in   sight  plain  enough  now.      Colonel  *s 

with  'em. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

The  Colonel  ? 

TONY. 

And  Mrs.  Colonel,  too.      [He  disappears. 

B  O  N  I  T  A  . 

Estrella  ? 

C  A  N  B  Y. 
Well,  let  's  meet  'em,  kitten.      [He  goes  out  the  door. 

BONITA. 

[Running  to  door  and  s  topping, ~\  Will  you  go,  too  ?  [DENTON 
shakes  head ;  she  returns  and  gives  him  both  her  hands, ,]  Harry, 
Pa  has  given  you  half  the  business. 

DENTON. 

He  has  given  me  all  the  world.    [He  kisses  her.   BONITA  runs  out. 

DENTON. 

[Reflectively.]  Colonel  and  wife  estranged.  Hardly  worth 
my  silence.  No  matter,  this  is  worth  it.  [Looks  about.]  Freedom, 
action,  the  wide  horizon. 

[SAM  enters  from  pantry. 

SAM. 
May*  Domy.      Boss  says  fifteen — fifty  ? 

DENTON. 

Fifteen — lunch  for  fifteen.      [Sam  removes  bottle  and  glasses. 


ARIZONA  105 

SAM. 
Velly  good.      \_A  bugle  sounds  in  the  distance. 

DEN  TO  N. 

[With  suppressed  enthusiasm .]  Left  into  line.  Conley's 
bugle.  Not  another  trumpeter  like  him  in  the  service.  [The  bugle 
sounds  again. ]  By  jove  ! 

SAM. 

[Smiling.]      You  like  sodga  trumpet,  May'  Domy  ? 

D  E  NTO  N. 

Like  it,  Sam  ?  That  's  a  soldier's  cocktail.  [Again  the  bugle. ~\ 
Dismount. 

SAM. 
You  sabe  what  he  say,  eh  ?     [Another  call. 

D  ENTON. 
Yes,  that  's  the  water  call. 

[ESTRELLA  and  BONITA  enter  •  BONITA  has  a  rose  in  her 
hand.  ESTRELLA  comes  silently  to  DENTON  and  takes 
bis  band.  BONITA  crosses  to  where  SAM  //,  near  the 
dresser. 

BON  IT  A. 
Sam,  what  about  luncheon  ?      [They  talk  apart. 

ESTRELLA. 

[To  DENTON.]  I  '11  never  forget  your  awful  sacrifice  for  me. 
Night  and  morning  I  prayed  for  you. 

DENTON. 

Mrs.  Bonham. 

ESTRELLA. 

Yes,  and  I  've  kept  my  parole.  [She  gives  him  her  hand. 
SAM  goes  out.  BONITA  rejoins  them. 


106  ARIZONA 

B  O  N  IT  A  . 

[Fastening  the  rose  at  ESTRELLA'S  throat. ~^      How  do  you  think 
he  looks,  Estrella  ? 

ESTRELLA. 
Looks  well — and  happy.    I  hope  you  are  happy,  Mr.  Den  ton  ? 

D  E  N  TO  N . 

I    'm   the  happiest  man   in  the  world.      [He  crosses  playfully, 
catching  at  BONITA,  who  retreats. 

[The  COLONEL  and  OANBY  pass  the  window,  talking. 
They  appear  in  the  doorway.  The  COLONEL  is  travel- 
stained  and  dusty. 

COLONEL. 

[As    they   enter. ,]      I  really  haven't  time.      [He  pauses   as  he 

sees  DENTON. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

[Noting   this.~\      Got   a   little   of  the  military    ourselves — Mr. 
Denton,  my  Major-Domo,  Captain  1st  Arizona  Volunteers. 

COLONEL. 

[With  reserve.]      Oh — Captain  Denton.       [Bows. 

D  E   N  T  O  N. 

Colonel. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 
Why,  what  's  the  matter  ? 

DENTON. 

You  gentlemen  must  care  to  talk  together.      I    '11  be  excused. 

[He  goes  out. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

Why  !      Thought  you  were  the  best  of  friends.      [LENA  comes 
from  the  pantry  with  some  dishes. 


ARIZONA  107 

ESTRELLA. 
Why,  Lena,  how  do  you  do  ? 

LENA. 

Oh,  Mrs.  Bonham.      [She  takes  ESTRELLA'  s  band  and  kisses  it 

effusively. 

ESTRELLA. 
Nonsense  ! 

COLONEL. 

[Observing  the  dishes. ~\     Here,   what    's   this   for?     We  can't 
stop.  [LENA  returns  to  the  pantry. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

Now,  why  not  ? 

COLONEL. 

Because  this  is  simply  a  halt  to  water,  and  tighten  cinches.    Our 
cars  are  on  the  side  track  now.       Wouldn't  mind  a  bottle  of  beer. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 
Got  some  champagne  on  ice,  and — 

COLONEL. 
Beer  ! 

C  A  N  B  Y. 
[To  BONITA.]      Beer.      [BONITA  leaves  to  fetch  it. 

ESTRELLA. 

And    I    'm    to   stay   here,    Pa,    with    you — and    Mother — and 

Bonita. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

Of  course — I  '11  send  some  champagne  to  the  officers.       [BONITA 
brings  the  beer. 


io8  ARIZONA 

COLONEL. 
Coffee's  better  for  'em.      [Takes  beer.~\      Good  ! 

[MRS.  CANBY    re-enters    in   gaudy  costume.      She    and 
ESTRELLA   embrace. 

E  S  T  R  E  L  L  A. 
/  '//send  them  the  coffee. 

MRS.    CANBY. 
Estrella — 

ESTRELLA. 

I  *d  rather,  Mother.      I  'm  at  home,  now,  for  a  while.      [She 
goes  into  the  pantry. 

[The  DOCTOR  and  Miss  MACCULLAGH  enter. 

CANBY. 
\Jn   exaggerated  welcome.~\      How    are    you  !     [MRS.  CANBY 

also  greets  them. 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

\To    Miss  MACCULLAGH.]     You  goin'    to  stay  with  us,  too  ? 

MlSS    MACCULLAGH. 
No,  dear.      [Displays  Red  Cross  insignia. 

CANBY. 

Quit  school  teachin',  eh  ? 

MlSS       MACCULLAGH. 

Yes,  for  good. 

DOCTOR. 
Colonel — 

MlSS      MACCULLAGH. 

Doctor    Fenlon,    if  you    don't    like  suspenders,   wear  a  belt, 
please. 


ARIZONA  109 

DOCTOR. 

[To  COLONEL.]  That  two-story,  next  to  Major  Cochran's,  at 
the  Post — 

COLONEL. 

Yes.  [Pause,  during  which  DOCTOR  looks  at  Miss  MAcCuL- 
LAGH.]  What  of  it  ? 

DOCTOR. 

The  custom  's  been  to  assign  those  'dobe  quarters  to  the  mar 
ried  men.  Three  bachelors  in  that. 

COLONEL. 

No  married  men  unprovided  for  ? 

DOCTOR. 

[Shaking  head]  Was  wondering  what  your  policy  would  be 
if  other  married  men  should — turn  up  when  we  come  back. 
[Glances  meaningly  at  Miss  MACCULLAGH. 

COLONEL. 

Why,  oust  the  boys,  of  course. 

DOCTOR. 

[Smiling  reflectively.]     Er — Colonel — 

COLONEL. 

Well  ? 

DOCTOR. 

You  're  a  member  of  the  Officers'  Club  ? 

COLONEL. 

Rather. 

DOCTOR. 

[ To  Miss  MACCULLAGH.]      He  's  the  President. 


no  ARIZONA 

MlSS    MACCULLAGH. 

Why,  I  know  that. 

DOCTOR. 

[To  COLONEL.]  Whenever  there  's  a  little  game  of  draw,  you 
usually  take  chips  ? 

COLONEL. 
Yes. 

DOCTOR. 

We  play  pretty  much  same  kind  of  game  ?  Don't  hold  'em 
too  close,  and,  on  the  other  hand,  don't  bet  every  dinky  ten-spot. 
[COLONEL  nods.]  And  in  the  long  run,  what  's  been  your  losses? 

COLONEL. 

Think  I  'm  a  little  ahead. 

DOCTOR. 
[To  Miss  MAC.CULLAGH.]      There  !     Me,  too. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

What  's  he  talkin*  about  ? 

DOCTOR. 

[TV  COLONEL.]      Hates  it. 

MlSS       MACCULLAGH. 

Poker  ? 

DOCTOR. 
Yea. 

MlSS     MACCULLAGH. 
I  do. 

DOCTOR. 
[To  COLONEL.]      See  ? 

COLONEL. 

Not  quite. 


ARIZONA  in 

DOCTOR. 

It  's  really  the  only  game  I  care  for.  [Turns  to  Miss  MAC- 
CULLAGH.]  So  there  's  your  explanation. 

MlSS     MAcCuLLAGH. 

What  explanation  ? 

DOCTOR. 

This  is  the  third  time  she  's  declared  her  intention  of  quitting 
school,  always  in  my  hearing,  and  she  's  displayed  a  personal 
interest  in  my  wearing  apparel,  that  nothing  short  of  matrimony 
can  make  legitimate. 

MlSS      MACCULLAGH. 
Why,  you  horrible  creature  ! 

DOCTOR. 

[To  COLONEL.]  But  if  I  can't  draw  and  fill  occasionally, 
what  's  a  two-story  'dobc  to  me?  [COLONEL  smiles.}  So  that 
explains  my  silence.  [He  turns  to  Miss  MACCULLAGH. 

MlSS      MACCULLAGH. 

Which  is  infinitely  easier  to  explain  than  your  speech.  [She 
goes  haughtily  out. 

D  OCTOR . 

My  method — healthy  irritation.  Next  time,  I  '11  ask  her 
directly.  She  was  born  for  a  hospital. 

[HODGMAN  enters.    Like  all  the  other  soldiers  of  this  act, 
he  is  dust-covered. 

HODGMAN. 

[Saluting.]      Colonel.      Ready  in  fifteen  minutes. 


ii2  ARIZONA 

COLONEL. 

Good.        [Returns  salute."]       Governor.      [Goes  to  door  with 
CANBY. 

MRS.  CANBY. 

I  *m  sorry  there  Js  got  to  be  war,   but  it  's  good  to  see   you 
again,  Captain.      [HODGMAN  shakes  bands  with  BONITA. 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

Thank  you. 

BONITA. 

Does  the  army  miss  Mr.  Denton  very  much,  Captain  ?      [The 
COLONEL  goes.      CANBY  comes  down. 

HODGMAN. 

Does  the  army  miss  Denton  ?    [Laughs.]    Oh,  not  particularly. 
The  army  Js  conscious  that  he  Js  gone,  and  it  's  rather  glad. 

BONITA. 

Glad  ? 

HOD  G  M  A  N. 

Pardon  !       I   forgot  that    Denton  was   something  of  a  favorite 
with  you,  Miss  Bonita. 

MRS.   CANBY. 
Not  at  all,  Captain.      But,  why  glad  he  's  gone  ? 

HODGMAN. 

Rather  a  dangerous  man  to  have  around. 

CANBY. 
Quick  on  the  trigger  ? 

HODGMAN. 

No.      Denton  's  specialty  was  the  ladies.      [Laughs.~\ 


ARIZONA  113 

C  A  N  B  Y. 
Get  out  ! 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

I  don't  believe  you. 

MRS.     C  A  N  B  Y. 

Bonita ! 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

[With  dignity. ~\      Sorry  to  brush  Miss  Canby  the  wrong  way, 
but — 

C  A  N  B  Y. 
But  about  Denton  ? 

H  O  D  G  M  AN. 

[dfter  a  look  toward  the  door  for  the  COLONEL.]      That   was 
why  he  had  to  resign. 

MRS.    C  A  N  B  Y. 

[Looking  at  CANBY.]     Had  to  resign  ? 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

Why,  had  to  ?     How  ? 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

Excuse  gossip.  [Laughs.']  But  since  my  veracity  is  ques 
tioned —  [Looks  at  BONITA,  then  to  MRS.  CANBY.] — an  officer 

coming  home  unexpectedly,  found  his  young  wife  with  another 

man.     That  man  was  Denton. 

BONITA. 

That  's  a  falsehood,  a  cowardly  falsehood!  [The  women  look 
at  DOCTOR,  who  is  by  the  door.  HODGMAN  laughs  and  crosses  to 
the  dresser,  right. 

DOCTOR. 

First  I  've  heard  of  it. 


ii4  ARIZONA 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

You  understand,  Captain — er — Denton  's  my  manager  here  on 
the  ranch. 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 
[In  some  alarm.]      Here  ! 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 
[Noticing  HODGMAN' s  discomfort.]     I  told  you  it  wasn't  so. 

DOCTOR. 

On  the  place  now  ? 

C  A  N  B  Y. 
Yes.      [  The  DOCTOR  goes  out  in  search  for  DENTON. 

MRS.    C  A  N  B  Y. 
Who  was  the  woman  ?      Mrs.  Cochran  ?      [She  crosses  eagerly 

tO    HODGMAN. 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

[Leaving  her.]     I  can't  mention  names,  Mrs.  Canby. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 
[As  HODGMAN  passes  him.]      But  the  fact  ? 

HODGMAN. 

The   fact  I  know. 

[ESTRELLA  and  SAM  enter  from  pantry  with  big  coffee-pot. 

ESTRELLA. 
Now,  take  that  to  the  officers,  Sam. 

HODGMAN. 

[Overbearing.]      Coffee  ?     I    '11    show    Sam    where     to     go. 

Come. 

[He  goes   out.     SAM  follows.      BONITA  bursts  into  tears 

and  falls  on  tabU. 


ARIZONA  115 

ESTRELLA. 

Why,  little  sister,  what  is  it  ?  [She  puts  ber  arms  around 
BONITA. 

MRS.    C  A  N  B  Y. 
It  all  comes  o'  Canby's  havin'  a  punch  eat  with  us. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

A  Major-Domo  ain't  a  puncher. 

ESTRELLA. 
Mr.  Denton  ? 

MRS.    C  A  N  B  Y. 

Yes.  She  thinks  she  's  in  love  with  him,  and  you  know  who 
stubborn  a  puppy  love  can  be. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

Well,  Mother,  I  don't  call  it  puppy  love. 

BONITA. 

[Looking  up.]  If  to  love  once  and  for  always  is  puppy  love, 
then  my  love  is  that.  He  is  the  first  man  I  have  ever  cared  for — 
I  am  the  first  woman  he  has  loved.  [Sbe  buries  ber  face  in 
ESTRELLA' s  gown. 

ESTREL   LA. 

[Comfor ting. ]      A  soldier's  sweetheart  mustn't  cry,  Bonita. 

MRS.     C  AN  B  Y. 

[Resenting  ESTRELLA' s  attitude.]  We  understand  there  were 
some  didos  down  at  the  Post,  that  Denton  had  to  resign  on  ac 
count  of. 

ESTRELLA. 

His  resignation  was  a  mistake.  Denton  committed  no  wrong. 
He  is  an  absolutely  upright,  innocent  man.  [She  comes  down,  in- 


u6  ARIZONA 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

[Rising  and  embracing  her."]      Estrella! 

EsTRELLA. 
And  you  love  him,  darling,  all  you  know  how  ? 

MRS.     C  A  N  B  Y. 

[Dominantly. ]  You  may  think  he  's  innocent,  Estrella,  but 
you  can't  know  anything  about  it. 

ESTRELLA. 
I  can  know,  and  I  do  know. 

C  A  N  B  Y; 

[Apprehensively.]     How,  daughter  ? 

ESTRELLA. 

Because  at  the  time  of  which  he  was  accused — [Pause.] 
Denton  was  with  me.  [CANBY  and  wife  exchange  looks.  BONITA 
recoils  from  Estrella. 

BONITA. 
With  you  ? 

ESTRELLA. 
With  me. 

MRS.   CANBY. 

Where  ? 

ESTRELLA. 
[Puzzled.]      Why,   in  my  drawing-room.      [Pause.]     What 

is  the  matter  ? 

CANBY. 

Did — did  the  Colonel  find  you  there  ? 

ESTRELLA. 
[Hunted  and  at  bay.]      The  Colonel  ? 


ARIZONA 


117 


C  A  N  B  Y. 

Yes.      When   you   and   Denton  were  together,  did  the  Colonel 
come  in  of  a  sudden  and  make  trouble  about  it  ? 

ESTRELLA. 
With  whom  have  you  been  talking  ? 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

Captain  Hodgman. 

ESTRELLA. 

[Hysterically.]      My    God  !     To    my    own   people  !     What  a 
poltroon  !     [She  weeps. 

[The  COLONEL  re-enters  followed  by    the  DOCTOR. 

COLONEL. 

Goodbye.    Don't  cry  about  it.    [He  avoids  ESTRELLA' s  extended 
band. 

ESTRELLA. 
Frank — Don't  humiliate  me    here,  however  you    distrust  me. 

COLONEL. 

Where  did  you  get  that  rose  ?    [He  looks  at  the  rose  on  her  breast. 

ESTRELLA. 

Bonita  put  it  there.      Will  you  have  it  ? 

[CANBY  goes  into  doorway  at  back.      The  DOCTOR  talks 
apart  with  BONITA  and  MRS.  CANBY. 

COLONEL. 

No — [Pause.~\      Denton  is  here. 

ESTRELLA. 
Yes. 


n8  ARIZONA 

COLONEL. 
Did  you  know  it  ? 

ESTRELLA. 
Yes. 

COLONEL. 

That  is  why  you  asked  me  to  bring  you. 

ESTRELLA. 

No,  I  didn't  want  to  be  at  the  Post  while  you  were  gone. 
Frank  !  Don't  smile  in  that  bitter  way;  don't  let  these  people 
know  that  you  hate  me. 

COLONEL. 

[In  undertone.]  My  God  !  I  love  you  with  a  perversenesS 
that  makes  me  despise  myself. 

ESTRELLA. 

And  I  love  you.  There  was  never  a  thought  between  me  and 
Denton,  I  swear  it. 

COLONEL. 

We  can't  talk  of  it  now. 

ESTRELLA. 

It 's  been  two  months — and — 

COLONEL. 
Yes — two  months  in  hell.      Don't  talk  of — it — now. 

ESTRELLA. 
Come  a  minute  with  me,  Frank.      [Pause.    She  goes  out  left ; 

tbe  COLONEL  follows. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

Poor  girl,  I  don't  blame  her  ;  Colonel  'd  be  a  pretty  easy  mark 
for  the  fever.  [He  comes  inside. 


ARIZONA  119 

DOCTOR. 

Oh,  I  '11  get  some  suspenders,  and  then  Miss  MacCullagh 
can  look  after  the  Colonel. 

[SERGEANT  KELLAR  enters. 

K  E  L  L  A  R. 
The  Colonel  here  ? 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

Be  right  out.      How  are  you,  Sergeant  ? 

KELLAR. 

Mr.  Canby,  I  haven't  seen  you  since  my  Lena — is — here. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

Oh,  that  's  all  right,  Sergeant. 

KELLAR. 

I  never  forget  if.  But  you  have  been  fader  for  two  girls,  you 
know  how  a  man's  heart  is  for  one.  And  I  think  about  your 
care  for  Lena.  [To  DOCTOR.]  Dat  is  so,  Doctor,  you  know. 
[To  CANBY.]  She  is  here,  yet  ? 

CANBY. 

Oh,  yes. 

KELLAR. 

Good  girl,  now  ? 

CANBY. 

Splendid  girl. 

KELLAR. 

Mit  de  men — is  behave  all  right  ? 

CANBY. 

You  bet.  The  best  vaquero  on  my  place  is  dead  in  love  with 
her. 


120  ARIZONA 

K  E  L  L  A  R. 
Yes? 

MRS.     C  A  N  B  Y. 

Wants  to  marry  her.      I  '11  find  him.      [She  goes  in  search  of 
TONY. 

K  E  L  L  A  R. 
Lena  likes  him  ? 

C  A  N  B  Y. 
Yes,  I  think  so. 

K  E  L  L  A  R. 
German  ? 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

No,  he  's  a  Mexican,  but  a  pretty  good  one.      Going  to  Cuba 
with  our  volunteers. 

K  E  L  L  A  R. 
Well —  [He  looks  around  at  BONITA. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 
Coming  now. 

K  E  L  L  A  R. 

I  talk  mit  him.    [Again  looks  at  BONITA,  who,  seeing  bis  anxiety, 
goes  out  by  pantry  door. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

[To  the  DOCTOR. J      You  don't  have  to  build  a  fire  under  her, 
do  you  ?      £ToNY  appears  at  window 

TONY. 

Yes,  sa.      [Sees  KELLAR.]      Sergeant. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 
Come  in.      [TONY  leaves  the  window. 

KELLAR. 

Is   dis    man  ?      [TONY  appears  in  doorway  and  comes  in,  followed 
by  MRS.  CANBY. 


ARIZONA  121 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

That  's  Tony.  [Pause.  Men  regard  each  other  in  panic 
silence. 

T  O  N  v. 

What  is  the  matter  ? 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

The  Sergeant — 

K  E  L  L  A  R. 
Mr.  Canby  tell  me — that  Lena  is — that  maybe  you  like  Lena. 

TONY. 

\_Firing  up.~\  Lena  ?  Is  my  own  beezness.  For  him,  I  rope 
the  cow.  What  I  think,  what  I  lofe,  is  no  beezness,  but  there — 
[To  heaven^ — and  me.  [He  slaps  bis  breast  and  breatbes  bard. 

CANBY. 

[Swtbingfy.]  Well,  keep  your  shirt  on,  Tony.  Ain't  any 
body  kickin*. 

[LENA  enters  and  shrinks  back  into  doorway  of  pantry. 

K  E  L  L  A  R. 

Der — ah — Mr.  Canby  speaks  fine  for  you.  If  Lena  shall  like 
you,  I  am  glad.  But  I  don't  want  some  man  to  like  Lena,  und 
den  same  day  find  out.  It  is  right  de  man  must  know  before  I 

go  vay — now  ! 

CANBY. 

Well,  1  think  he  does. 

K  E  L  L  A  R. 

Yes  !      \_Tbey  look  at  TONY. 

CANBY. 

You  know — er — Lena — about  the  trouble  Lena  had  ? 


122  ARIZONA 

TONY. 

[Angrily.  ]      Yes — yes.      I  know. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 
Yes,  he  knows. 

K  E  L  L  A  R. 
[Leading  bim.~\      And  still — yet  ? 

TONY. 

[With  spirit."]      What  the  difference  ?      Some  say  I  marry  her. 
First  she    tell    me  his  name — and  then — [Pause,    and  successful 
effort  at  self-control.] — Never  mind.      Now — now  she — lofes  me. 
[LENA  covers  ber  face. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

[Answering  DOCTOR'S  look.~\  That  's  Arizona.  We  're  a  little 
shy  on  water,  but  there  '  s  as  much  charity  for  a  woman  as  you  can 
round  up  in  the  Gospel  of  St.  John.  [He  signals  TONY  to  go. 
TONY,  going  reluctantly,  bows.  KELLAR  salutes  him. 

K  E  L  L  A  R. 
Vare  is  Lena  ?      [Tow*  pauses.. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

In  the  pantry,  likely.      [He  starts  down  and  sees  ber. 

K  E  L  L  A  R.. 

[  Turning . ]  Lena.  [He  embraces  ber  and  turns  belpleuly  to 
CANBY.  CANBY  points  off.  KELLAR  goes  witb  LENA  into  the 
pantry.  TONY  tries  to  follow,  and  is  stopped  by  CANBY. 

TONY. 

Is  my  beezness — I  go  dere  !  [Pause.  CANBY  slaps  bim  on  the 
back.  TONY  follows  LENA  into  pantry. 


Is  my  beezness — I  go  dere  !  " 


ARIZONA  123 

C  A  N  B  Y. 
[Turning  to  DOCTOR.]      Eh  ?      [DOCTOR  nods,  "  You  bet." 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

[Meeting  DOCTOR  at  the  door.~\  Why,  hello  Doctor.  Good 
of  you  to  ask  for  me. 

DOCTOR. 

\Effusiv  ely.~\  Demon  !  And  those  ?  [Points  to  shoulder- 
straps. 

[BONITA  re-enters  hurriedly  by  door  at  back. 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

Volunteers. 

BONITA. 

\To  CANBY.]     Ask  him  now.     Before  Captain  Hodgman  goes. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

Oh — er — Mr.  Denton — [DENTON  attends;  pause, ,]  Captain 
Hodgman  said  something  here,  that  you  ought  to  know  'bout 
'fore  you  go.  It  's  about  your  leavin'  the  Cavalry. 

DENTON. 

Well  ? 

CANBY. 

What  was  the  reason  ? 

DENTON. 

What  did  Hodgman  say  ? 

CANBY. 
[Pause. .]      An  officer's  wife.      Was  that  it  ?. 

DENTON. 

.^      I  can't  explain  just  now. 


1 24  ARIZONA 

DOCTOR. 
Excuse  me.      \He  goes  out. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 
Now. 

D  E  N  T  ON. 

Not  now,  sir. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 
You  mean  'cause  the  women  are  here  ? 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

No  sir.      The  truth  concerns  another  more  than  it  does  myself. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

\Pause.~\  Er — a — Captain  Denton.  \_Pause.~\  You  know  I 
— er — [Pause.  BONITA  goes  to  CANBY,  who  puts  an  arm  about  herJ\ 
We  take  a  man  on  here,  and  ask  no  questions.  We  know  when 
he  throws  his  saddle  on  his  horse,  whether  he  understands  his 
business  or  not.  He  may  be  a  minister  backslidin',  or  a  banker 
savin*  his  last  lung,  or  a  train-robber  on  his  vacation — we  don't 
care.  A  good  many  of  our  most  useful  men  have  made  their 
mistakes.  All  we  care  about  now  is,  will  they  stand  the  gaff? 
Will  they  set  sixty  hours  in  the  saddle,  holdin'  a  herd  that  's 
tryin'  to  stampede  all  the  time  ?  Now,  without  makin'  you  any 
fine  talk,  you  can  give  anyone  of  'em  the  fifteen  ball.  I  don't 
know  whether  it  's  somethin'  you  learned  in  the  school,  or 
whether  you  just  happened  to  pick  the  right  kind  of  a  grandfather, 
or  what.  But  your  equal  has  never  been  in  this  territory  in  my 
time.  [BONITA  kisses  her  father. 

DENTON. 

You  're  very  good,  sir. 


ARIZONA  125 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

All  of  which  is  merely  to  say  that  my  proposition  about  half 
owner  will  still  go — after  you  do  explain  your  leaving  the  Cavalry 
— if  the  explanation  doesn't  hit  too  near  home  to  me. 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

Very  well,  sir. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

And  if  it  does  pinch  any  woman  that  I  *m  due  to  protect, 
why — I  '11  protect  'em  all  right. 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

I  hope  so. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

You  know  whether  you  want  to  talk  or  not,  but  until  you  do,, 
we  copper  the  daughter  proposition. 

D  ENT  ON. 

You  mean  you  withdraw  your  consent — concerning  Miss  Bonita. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

That  's  it. 

MRS.   CA  N  B  Y. 

[With  antagonism  for  DENTON.]      Why  ?     Had  you  given  it  ? 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

I  had — and  if  the  boy  squares  himself,  Mother,  you  kin  buck  all 
you  want  to.  It  goes  as  it  lays. 

DENTON. 

I  '11  square  myself.  I — blundered  into  a  false  position  trying 
to  help  a  friend,  but  before  I  '11  give  up  the  woman  I  love,  or 
even  hurt  her  by  any  doubt,  I  '11  tell — I  resigned  because  I — [Stops 
and  breathes  bard,  with  effort  at  control. 


126  ARIZONA 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

[Crossing  to  bim.~\    Captain  Denton — I  don't  doubt  you.    [She 
gives  him  her  band  ;  CANBY  restrains  MRS.  CANBY/TOW  interfering. 
[KELLAR  comes  quickly  from  pantry  door. 

K  E  L  L  A  R. 
[In  suppressed  excitement.]      Lieutenant  ! 

DENTON. 

[With  melancholy, .]    Oh  Kellar,  how  are  you  ?    [Takes  bis  band. 

KELLAR. 

I  have  seen  my  Lena. 

DENTON. 

What  's  the  matter  ? 

KELLAR. 

She  will  marry  Tony.  She  tells  me  and  Tony  de  man's  name. 
A  tamnt  loafer  !  I  got  even  if  dey  hang  me  for  it. 

DENTON. 

Steady — steady,  old  man.      [HODGMAN  re-enters. 

KELLAR. 
[Seeing  HODGMAN.]     Oh,  I  can't  stand  it  ! 

CANBY. 

[Coming  between  DENTON  and  HODGMAN.]  Here  's  your 
authority.  Captain  Hodgman,  Captain  Denton,  Arizona  Volunteers 
and  incidentally  my  partner  in  the  cattle  business.  [To  DENTON.] 
Need  me  ? 

DENTON. 

[Witb  gesture  to  CANBY,  but  eye  on  HODGMAN.]    Please  go,  sir. 


Ask  him  now! 


ARIZONA  127 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

Go  on,  Mother,  kitten.       [He  puts  women  out  and  follows  them. 
[HODGMAN  goes  left. 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

[Defiantly.]  Well  ?  [DENTON  regards  HODGMAN  a  moment, 
then  steps  near  to  him.  After  a  moment's  pause  be  strikes 
HODGMAN  in  the  face  with  bis  sombrero,  at  the  same  time  drawing 
bL  revolver. 

HODGMAN. 

[Recoiling.']     Sergeant  Kellar. 

K  E  L  L  A  R. 

[Saluting.]      Captain. 

HODGMAN. 

Arrest  this  man.  [TONY  appears  in  tbe  pantry  door  struggling 
witb  LENA,  who  is  trying  to  restrain  bim. 

K£  L  L  AR. 
[Saluting.]      I  '11  see  you  damned  first! 

[ToNY  fires ;  DENTON,  startled  by  tbe  noise,  acci 
dentally  fires  bis  gun  into  tbe  floor  /  HODGMAN  falls  ; 
TONY  disappears. 

DENTON. 

[Turning  to  KELLAR.]      Kellar  ! 

KELLAR. 
/  didn't  shoot  him. 

COLONEL. 

[Entering.]      What  's  that  firing?     Why,  Captain — 
[CANBY  enters. 


128  ARIZONA 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 
[Pointing  accusingly. ,~\     Denton. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 
[To  DENTON.]      You  shoot  him  ? 

DENTON. 

No. 

COLONEL. 

[Grabbing  DENTON' s  revolver  and  quickly  examining  it.]  AT 
empty  shell,  and  it  's  hot. 

DENTON. 

.  Discharged  by  accident. 

[Enter  HALLOCK,  DOCTOR,  some  troopers  and  cowboys. 
Enter  MRS.  CANBY. 

H  O  D  G  M  A  N. 

[Apparently  dying.~\     Denton  struck   me  in   the   face.      I  told 
Sergeant  Kellar  to  arrest  him.      Kellar  refused.      Denton  shot  me. 
[DOCTOR  kneels  by  HODGMAN. 

COLONEL. 

Mr.  Hallock,  put  these  two  men  under  guard. 

[There  is  a  murmur  of  opposition  and  threatened  rescue 
by  the  cowboys. 

DENTON. 

[Restraining  them^\     Hold  on,  boys  !     [The  cowboys  obey  him. 

HALLOCK. 

[To  KELLAR  and  DENTON.]  Fall  in.  [KELLAR  and  DENTON 
march  out  under  arrest,  amid  a  chorus  of  exclamations  and  ques 
tions  from  the  cowboys. 

CURTAIN 


THE   FOURTH   ACT 


HE  scene  is  the  same  as  that  of  the 
first  act.  Twenty  minutes  are  sup 
posed  to  have  elapsed  since  the  end  of 
the  third  act.  COLONEL,  LIEU 
TENANTS  HALLOCK  and  YOUNG, 
CANBY,  BONITA  and  MRS.  CANBY  are  in  the  court 
yard.  An  orderly  is  at  the  gate. 

COLONEL. 

Tell  Major  Cochran  to  keep  those  volunteers  outside  the  fences. 

HALLOCK. 
[Saluting.]     B  troop  deployed  in  that  duty  now,  sir. 

COLONEL. 

» 

[Briskly.]      Very  well.      My  compliments  to  the  Major,  and 
tell  him  to  keep  'em  there.     Get  the  rest  of  the  regiment  ready  to 

move. 

HALLOCK. 

Yes,  sir.      [He    salutes.        The    COLONEL    returns    the   salute. 
HALLOCK  goes  briskly  out. 

CANBY. 

[Angrily.]      The  men  from  this  ranch  want  their  horses. 

COLONEL. 

They  can't  have  'em.      They  've  shown  a  disposition  to  make 


3° 


ARIZONA 


trouble  and  I  '11  keep  'em  away  from  the  stables  till  we  go.     Mr. 

Young — 

YOUNG. 

Colonel.       [Salutes. 

COLONEL. 

[Saluting. ,]      Ask    Doctor    Fenlon   how    Captain  Hodgman    's 
doing. 

YOUNG. 

Yes  sir.       [Salutes  and  goes  briskly  into  the  dining  room. 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 
Colonel  Bonham. 

COLONEL. 

Bonita — 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 
That  guard  won't  let  me  speak  to  Mr.  Denton. 

COLONEL. 

My  orders. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

Why? 

COLONEL. 

I  don't  want  anybody  to  see  either  of  the  prisoners. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 
Well,  ain't  that  a  little  high-handed  with  one  of  my  men  ? 

COLONEL. 

Call  it  anything  you  want  to,  Canby,  but  you  know  better  than 
to  buck  against  the  cavalry,  don't  you  ? 

CANBY. 

I  ain't  looking   for   any   trouble,  but   when  anybody  puts  my 
ranch  under  martial  law,  I  'm  goin'  to  holler  some. 


ARIZONA  131 

COLONEL. 

Well,  holler.     [YOUNG  re-enters  from  the  dining-room, .]     How 
is  he  ? 

YOUNG. 

[Saluting.]      Doctor  Fenlon  is  probing  for  the  ball.      See  you 
himself  in  a  minute. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 
[Apart  to  MRS.  CANBY.]      If  he  wasn't   Estrella's  husband — 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 
Mr.  Young. 

YOUNG. 

Miss  Canby. 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

They  've  got  Mr.  Denton  in  the  blacksmith  shop,  under  guard. 
Will  you  take  him  a  letter  for  me  ? 

MRS.     CANBY. 

You  won't  send  any  letter  to  that  man,  Bonita. 

CANBY. 

Well,  hold  on.      I  reckon   one  commanding  officer  's  enough, 
Mother.       [To  BONITA.]      You  write  your  letter. 

BONITA. 

It  's  written. 

CANBY. 

Then  give  it  to  Mr.  Young. 

MRS.    CANBY. 

[Warning ly  as  tbe  letter  is  passed.]      Bonita  ! 

CANBY. 
[Interposing.  ]      Mother. 


132  ARIZONA 

MRS.    C  A  N  B  y. 

\_Sbarp ly.~\      Am  I  under  martial  law,  Henry  Canby  ? 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

[In  same  tone.~\  No,  but  you  ain't  sellin'  any  too  high  in  the 
pools. 

YOUNG. 

[Extending  letter.]      Colonel  ? 

COLONEL. 

No. 

YOUNG. 

Sorry,  Miss  Canby.      [Returns  letter. 

CANBY. 
[Getting  out  bis  pocket-book. ,]      Give  me  the  letter,  Bonita. 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 
Here. 

CANBY. 

[Licking  a  postage  stamp  and  fxing  it  to  the  letter. ,]  There  ! 
There  's  a  two-cent  stamp  on  it.  Now  I  reckon  the  United 
States  mail  is  about  as  big  as  the  Eleventh  Cavalry.  [Starts 
toward  the  gate. 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 
Splendid,  Paw. 

CANBY. 
I  '11  deliver  the  letter  myself. 

MRS.   CANBY. 

Henry  Canby. 

CANBY. 

Well,  Madam  ?     [He  turns  in  the  gateway. 


ARIZONA  133 

MRS.   CANBY. 

If  you  carry  that  letter  to  him,  I  put  my  bonnet  on. 

CANBY. 

You  do  ? 

MRS.  CANBY. 

I  do.  We  've  had  our  understanding.  It  's  no  fault  of  mine 
that  these  two  offspring  was  girls,  but  they  are  girls,  and  they  're 
in  my  department. 

CANBY. 

But  here  's  a  letter  with  a  United  States  brand  upon  it.  The 
government  buys  my  beef,  and  bonnet  or  no  bonnet,  Mother,  I  '11 
put  this  in  the  right  corral.  [Starts. 

COLONEL. 

\_In  tone  of  command. ,]      Canby. 

CANBY. 

Well  ? 

COLONEL. 

Don't  be  a  fool.  I  've  got  twenty  minutes  in  which  to  make 
an  investigation,  and  turn  Denton,  or  some  other  guilty  man,  over 
to  the  civil  authorities  with  the  facts.  Every  attempt  of  his  friends 
to  hamper  that,  will  react  against  him. 

CANBY. 

Well,  make  your  investigation. 

COLONEL. 

I  've  had  no  chance.  Your  punchers  are  menacing,  and  taking 
my  attention.  I  don't  want  to  destroy  them,  but  we  're  getting 
where  a  half  hour  is  worth  more  to  us  than  their  lives,  and,  I  'm 
sorry  to  say,  more  than  yours. 


i34  ARIZONA 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

But  fair  play — fair  play. 

COLONEL. 

In  what  r 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

Your  trial. 

COLONEL. 

Bring  in  two  of  Den  ton's  company  to  hear  it. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

Now  you  're  talking. 

COLONEL. 

•  * 

\To  YouNcJ  Go  with  him.  [YOUNG  and  CANBY  go  out  of 
gate  and  go  left.]  Orderly,  ask  Major  Cochran  and  the  commis 
sioned  officers  of  A  troop  to  come  here.  [The  orderly  salutes  and 
goes  out  of  the  gate  and  to  the  right. 

DOCTOR. 

[Coming  from  dining-room.]  Haven't  finished,  Colonel.  Have 
given  him  stimulant,  and  we  're  only  waiting. 

COLONEL. 

Found  the  ball  ?      [His  tone  is  business-like  and  brisk. 

DOCTOR. 

Located,  but  no  use  to  extract  it.  Too  painful,  unless  we  use 
chloroform,  and  he  wouldn't  rally  from  that. 

COLONEL. 

What  are  his  chances  ! 

DOCTOR. 

None. 


ARIZONA  135 

COLONEL. 

Positively  none  ? 

DOCTOR. 

Positively  none.       [ESTRELLA  comes  from  the  bouse. 

COLONEL. 

Then  get  the  ball. 

[  The  DOCTOR  salutes  and  goes,  followed  by  the  COLONEL. 

BONITA  . 

Will  he  die,  Colonel  ? 

COLONEL. 

Surgeon  says  so.       [Disappears  with  DOCTOR. 

ESTRELLA. 
Bonita. 

BONITA. 

Do  you  think  he  shot  him  ? 

ESTRELLA. 

I  don't  know. 

MRS.   CANBY. 

\_Severely.~]      Was   there   any  reason  why  he  should  have  shot 
him  ? 

ESTRELLA. 
Yes. 

BONITA. 

Ah  ! 

ESTRELLA. 
But  not  between  Denton  and  me. 

BONITA. 

Why,  then  ? 


136  ARIZONA 

ESTRELLA. 

For  the  lie  that  Denton  cared   for  me.      Of  all  the  men  in  the 
world,  Hodgman  knew  that  was  a  lie. 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

Estrella  —  Estrella  !      \_Sbe  looks  anxiously  into  her  sister's  face, 
insisting  on  the  truth. 

ESTRELLA. 
ngly.]      Little     sister,    yes.      [BONITA   goes    to    ber. 


ESTRELLA  embraces  BONITA. 

MRS.     C  A  N  B  Y. 

[Unrelenting]      But    Hodgman    says   he   shot   him,    and    th 
Doctor  says  Hodgman  '11  die. 

ESTRELLA. 

Die? 

MRS.     C  A  N  B  Y. 
Yes. 

BONITA. 

[Anxiously.']      What  can  they  do  to  Denton? 

MRS.    C  A  N  B  Y. 

Well,  what  do  you  think  they  '11  do  ?      You  was  born  here. 

BONITA. 

Oh,  if  I  were  only  a  man.      [ToNY  comes  from  the  stable. 

MRS.     C  A  N  B  Y. 

That  wouldn'  t  count  much  with  a  jury. 

BONITA. 
{Quickly.]      Tony— 

TONY. 

Senorita. 


TONY 


ARIZONA  137 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

They    're    going  to  give    Major-Domo    up    to    the   Sheriff  at 
Tucson. 

TONY. 

Not  by  damn  sight. 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

They  will  try. 

TONY. 

[Melodramatically.]      Before  they  get  by  Tucson,  one  hundred 
vaquero  stops  him. 

MRS.    C  A  N  B  Y. 
Now,  see  here,  Tony,  no  devilment. 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

Maybe  you  won't  have  to  wait  for  that.      Maybe  some  chance 
will  happen  for  him  to  get  away  from  here. 

TONY. 

[Eagerly]      Yes! 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

[Suggesting.^      If  he  had  my  horse — 

TONY. 

Cochise  ! 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

Yes,  Cochise. 

TONY. 

Ah!      [TONY  kisses  bis  fnger  tips  in  an  imaginary  farewell. 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

Put  Major-Domo' s  saddle  on  him. 

TONY 

[Turring  to  go.~\      Yes — yes,  Senorita.      To   hell  with  Fort 


138  ARIZONA 

Grant  soldiers.      You  tal  me,  I  rope  the  Colonel   he    self.       [Goes 
into  stable  high  in  hope. 

MRS.    C  A  N  B  Y. 

Now,  Bonita,  whenever  you  *ve  done  with  your  highfalutins, 
we  Ml  get  back  to  earth.  Mr.  Demon  '11  take  his  chances  with 
the  law,  same  as  any  other  man  that  gets  too  gay  with  his  gun. 

BONITA. 

\_Fatef ully  and  with  folded  arms.~\  Let's  don't  talk  about  it, 
Mother. 

[MAJOR  COCHRAN,  a  Captain  and  two  Lieutenants  enter  the 
court. 

MAJOR  COCHRAN. 

[TV   ESTRELLA.]      The    Colonel    sent  for    us. 

[The  COLONEL  enters.        The  officers  salute  him.       The 
COLONEL  returns  their  salute. 

COLONEL. 

Orderly!  Tell  the  Sergeant  of  the  Guard  to  bring  Sergeant 
Kellar  and  Captain  Denton  in  here. 

[Orderly  salutes  and  goes  out  left. 

MRS.    C  A  N  B  y. 
Colonel. 

COLONEL. 

Mrs.  Canby. 

MRS.   CANBY. 

You  might  as  well    know  there  's  a  petticoat  plot  to  rescue  Mr. 

Denton. 

[COLONEL  looks  at  ESTRELLA. 

BONITA. 
It  's  mine. 


ARIZONA  139 

COLONEL. 
Oh! 

[LENA  enters  from  house. 

B  O  N  I  T  A  . 

[Going  to  COLONEL.]  Colonel.  [Pause. .]  I  *ve  always  tried 
to  be  friends  with  you. 

COLONEL. 

I  'm  sure  of  that,  Bonita. 

B  O  N  IT  A. 

And  this  isn't  a  time  to  mince  matters,  or  for  a  girl  to  play  at 
being  shy.  I  love  that  man  you  've  got  under  guard,  and  any 
advantage  you  take  over  him,  is  one  you  take  over  me,  too.  I 
feel  just  that  way  about  it,  and  any  chance  you  give  him,  or  fair 
play,  goes  double.  Understand  ? 

COLONEL. 

Perfectly. 

BONITA. 

If  war  's  on,  I  guess  your  regiment  '11  get  enough  trouble,  and 
this  one  man  needn't  keep  you  sitting  up  nights. 

COLONEL. 

Bonita — I  held  Denton  on  my  knee  when  he  wasn't  larger 
than  that.  If  he  's  got  a  show  on  God's  earth,  it  's  with  me. 
[Pauses  impressively,  then  offers  BONITA  bis  band  which  she  takes 
in  evident  gratitude. 

[CANBY  and  two  cowboys  enter. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

Who  saddled  Cochise  ? 


140  ARIZONA 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 
Done  for  me. 

[The  GUARD  with  DENTON  and  KELLAR  enters  and  halts 
at  command. 

LENA. 

Father  !  [She  impulsively  starts  to  KELLAR  who  is  about  to  em 
brace  her. 

COLONEL. 

Stand  back.  [KELLAR  comes  to  attention.  LENA  shrinks  back 
rebuked. ~\  Major  Cochran  and  gentlemen,  as  you  know,  Captain 
Hodgman  was  shot  in  that  room,  about  half  an  hour  ago.  He 
says  Captain  Denton  shot  him.  I  've  asked  you  to  meet  me  in  an 
inquiry  into  the  facts,  which,  of  course,  must  be  brief.  These 
men  of  the  volunteers  and  Mr.  Canby  are  here,  as  friends  of  the 
prisoner.  I  '11  ask  Mr.  Hallock  to  take  notes  of  our  work,  and 
you  men  will  attest  them. 

[HALLOCK  goes  to  table.       TONY  appears  with  BONITA'S 
horse  at  the  gate. 

COLONEL. 
Ready  ? 

HALLOCK. 

Yes  sir.       [Prepares  to  write. 

COLONEL. 

[With  a  paper. ~\  This  is  Captain  Hodgman' s  statement, 
which  he  hasn't  the  strength  at  present  to  sign.  [Hands  it  to 
CANBY.  J  It  affirms  that  Captain  Denton,  1st  Arizona  Volunteers, 
struck  Captain  Hodgman,  nth  United  States  Cavalry,  in  the  face 
with  his  hat,  and  without  any  retaliating  blow  from  Hodgman, 
shot  Hodgman.  /  entered  the  room,  myself,  at  the  sound  of  a 
revolver.  [To  HALLOCK.]  Write  this — And  placed  Captain 


ARIZONA  141 

Denton  and  Sergeant  Kellar — Kellar  of  1 1  th  United  States 
Cavalry — under  guard.  Kellar' s  daughter,  Lena,  was  also 
there.  I  took  Denton' s  weapon,  which  is  here — [He  takes  a 
revolver  from  the  table.]  Colt's  Army  44,  chamber  under  ham 
mer  empty,  barrel  warm  from  recent  discharge.  Tag  it,  Mr. 
Hallock,  and  mark  it  Exhibit  A  on  tag  and  also  in  your  minutes. 

H  A  L  L  O  C  K. 

[Looking  about '.]      Have  no  tag. 

COLONEL. 

[Impatiently. ,]  Take  the  back  of  that  writing  tab.  [Tears 
pasteboard  back  into  two  pieces  and  throws  them  on  the  table. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

I   'm   through  with  this.      [Returns  HODGMAN'S  statement  to 

COLONEL. 

COLONEL. 

Captain  Denton  !  [TONY  leaving  the  horse  in  care  of  a  cowboy, 
quickly  approaches  DENTON  and  whispers  to  him. 

DENTON. 

[Stepping  down  two  paces.]  Denial.  [Pause;  then  speaks  slowly 
that  HALLOCK  may  report  him.]  Did  strike  him  with  my  hat. 
The  shot  came  from  some  one  else  to  my  right,  to  Captain  Hodg- 
man's  left.  I  had  my  revolver  in  my  hand.  The  start  of  the 
report  to  my  right  gave  an  involuntary  pressure  to  my  trigger,  and 
I  fired.  As  Hodgman  fell,  I  turned  to  Sergeant  Kellar,  thinking 
be  had  fired,  but  his  hands  were  empty. 

[TONY  comes  unobtrusively  down  left. 

COLONEL. 

You  admit  striking  Captain  Hodgman  ? 


H2  ARIZONA 

D    E   N  T  O  N. 
I  do. 

COLONEL. 
Why  ? 

D  E  NTO  N. 

\Pause. ~\      A  personal  matter.      He  had  lied  about  me   to    my 
employer,  I  might  say,  my  partner  in  business. 

C  A  N  B  Y 

Partner  in  business — is  right. 

COLONEL. 

What  had  he  said  ?    {Pause;  to  HALLOCK.]  Declines  to  answer. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 
[To  DENTON.]      Answer  ! 

COLONEL. 

The  man  has  that  right. 

B  O  N IT A. 

[Advancing.']  Answer,  Captain  Denton.  [Pause;  then  im 
pulsively.}  He  told  my  father,  and  me,  that  Captain  Denton 
was  forced  to  resign  from  the  regular  army — 

DENTON. 

Bonita  ! 

COLONEL. 

[To  Hallock.~\      Don't  write. 

BONITA. 
Because  of  another  man's  wife.      [Pause. 

MRS.     C  A  N  B  Y. 

He  said  your  wife. 

[ESTRELLA  sinks  to  her  knees  and  covers  her  face. 


ARIZONA  143 

COLONEL. 

[Calmly.}      Then  he  did  lie. 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

I  knew  it  !      Estrella  !      [Goes  quickly  to  ESTRELLA  and  puts  her 
arms  about  her. 

COLONEL. 

Sergeant  Kellar.     [KELLAR  advances  two  paces.     DENTON  retires 
the  same.'}    Did  you  see  Captain  Denton  shoot  Captain  Hodgman  ? 

KELLAR. 
No,  7.a. 

COLONEL. 

You  were  present  ? 

KELLAR. 

Yes,  za. 

COLONEL. 

Watching  the  man  ? 

KELLAR. 
Yes,  za.  x 

COLONEL. 

And  you  didn't  see  him  shoot  ? 

K  E  L  L  AR. 
No,  za. 

COLONEL. 
Why  not  r 

KELLAR. 
[Pause.}      I  looked  'round. 

i 
COLONEL. 

Why? 

KELLAR. 

[Longer  pause.}     Dere  was  a  noise  behind.      I  looked  'round. 
Lieutenant  Denton — 


144  ARIZONA 

COLONEL. 

[To  HALLOCK.]      Captain  Denton. 

K  E  L  L  A  R. 

[Correcting  himself.']  Captain  Denton  say  ««  Kellar!  "  I  say 
"  /didn't  shoot  him." 

COLONEL. 

What  was  the  noise  behind  you  ?  [Pause.  Then  more  sharply.] 
The  noise  behind  you,  what  was  it  ?  [Pause.  Now  angrily.] 
Answer  ? 

LENA. 
It  was  me. 

COLONEL. 

I 

[Regretting  the  development.]      Your  daughter,  Lena  ? 

KELLAR. 
[Slowly]      Yez,  za. 

COLONEL. 

[Annoyed.  Consulting  HODGM  AN'  s  statement  t  and  resuming  inquiry 
with  increased  severity.]  Captain  Hodgman  says  he  had  previously 
ordered  you  to  arrest  Captain  Denton. 

KELLAR. 
[Quickly]      Yez,  za. 

COLONEL. 

That  you  refused  ? 

KELLAR. 
Yez,  za. 

COLONEL. 

Why  ?     [KELLAR  hesitates.]     Why  ? 

KELLAR. 

[In  a  burst]  He  was  a  damned  loafer.  My  Lena — he 
ruined  her — ruined  her — my  Lena  ! 


ARIZONA 


COLONEL. 

What  !      [  There  is  a  general  movement  among  the  spectators. 

K  E  L  L  A  R. 

Yez,  za — by    Gott  in  Himmel — if  de  whole   army   kills  me. 
[He  struggles  a  moment  for  self-control,  then  stoically  folds  his  arms. 

COLONEL. 

Did  you  shoot  him  ? 

K  E  L  L  A  R. 

No. 

COLONEL. 

The  noise  that  distracted  you — was  it  a  gun  shot  ? 

K  E  L  L  A  R. 
[Pause. ,]      Yez,  za. 

\All  eyes  are  now  upon  LENA. 

COLONEL. 

From — behind — you  ?      [Pause. 

H  A  L  L  O  CK . 

I  '  ve  written — ' '  from  behind  him. ' ' 

COLONEL. 

And  when  you  turned,  your  daughter,  Lena,  was  there  ? 

K  E  L  L  A  R. 
[Slowly.]      Yez,  za. 

[DOCTOR  FENLON  comes  from  the  dining-room,   his  coat 

off  and  sleeves  rolled  up. 

COLONEL. 

{After  pause.]      Well  ? 


146  ARIZONA 

DOCTOR. 

The  ball.  [Hands  a  bullet  to  COLONEL  and  returns  to  dining- 
room. 

COLONEL. 

[To  HALLOCK.]  Mark  exhibit  B,  ball  extracted  from  Captain 
Hodgman's  breast,  by  Dr.  Fenlon;  calibre  of  ball,  38.  [Pause.] 
Mr.  Demon  your  revolver  is  44.  [Picks  up  revolver.}  I  release 
you.  [Cowboys  in  gateway  yell  and  wave  tbeir  hats.  There  is  an 
answering  yell  from  outside,  accompanied  by  shots. 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

[Advancing.}      Thank    you.      My  revolver.      [Extends  hand. 

COLONEL. 

Is  part  of  this  record.  Take  mine.  [He  hands  his  own  revolver 
to  DENTON  who  takes  ity  with  some  show  of  emotion. 

COLONEL. 
[Pause.}      Lena  Kellar. 

K  E  L  L  A  R. 
Lena.       [Starts  impulsively  toward  her. 

COLONEL. 

[Fiercely.}  Attention.  [KELLAR  comes  to  attention.}  Lena, 
do  you  know  who  fired  this  shot  ? 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

One  minute,  Colonel. 

COLONEL. 

The  girl  must  answer  or  decline  to  answer. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

That  's  just  what  I  want  her  to  know.      If  her  answer   would 


ARIZONA  147 

any  way  go  against  her,  she  can  keep  still.    [TONY,  standing  to  the 
left  of  the  others,  calmly  strikes  a  match  and  lights  a  cigarette. 

COLONEL. 

Do  you  know  who  fired  this  shot,  that  struck  Captain  Hodgman? 
[Pause. ,]  Declines  to  answer.  [Pause. .]  Did  you  shoot  him  ? 
[Pause. ~\  Declines  to  answer.  Did  you  know  Captain  Hodgman? 
Had  you  any  motive  for  injuring  him,  or  wishing  him  injury  ? 
[Pause.']  Declines  to  answer.  [Pause.]  Lena — as  you  were 
the  only  person  present  at  the  time  of  this  shooting,  as  your  father 
testifies  that  you  had  cause  of  complaint  against  Captain  Hodgman, 
as  your  silence  indicates  you  are  in  possession  of  facts  concerning 
the  shooting,  if  you  did  not  actually  commit  it,  I  must  place  you 
under  arrest,  and  turn  you  over  to  the  civil  authority. 

K  E  L  L  A  R. 

\_Aspir ant lj.~\      Gott  ! 

TONY. 

No  !      [Sullenly  and  coming  to  the  centre  of  the  group. 

COLONEL. 

Do  you  know  anything  of  this  ? 

TONY. 

[Pause.]  I  shoot  him.  [Genera/  movement  of  surprise  by  the 
listeners.^  My  gun  thirty-eight.  She  will  be  my  wife — Tony 
Mostano.  [He  tenderly  embraces  LENA. 

COLONEL. 

[With  relief. ~\      That  simplifies  everything. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

And  with  an  Arizona  jury,  it  's  a  cinch. 


148  ARIZONA 

COLONEL. 

Major  Cochran,  detail  four  men  to  take  this  vaquero  to  Tucson. 

MAJOR. 
Yes,  sir.      [//  about  to  go. 

TONY. 

One  minute.  [On  signal  from  COLONEL  all  wait.~\  While  he 
[Pointing  to  HALLOCK.] — is  here,  I  tell  you.  I  was  in  the  kitchen; 
these  men  are  thare.  [Diagraming  it  on  stage. ,]  Hodgman, 
damn  him!  is  there.  Lena  tells  me  this  is  the  man.  I  look  in 
the  door  so.  I  pop  him — bang  !  I  jomp  back.  [Suiting  bis 
action  to  the  word,  TONY  jumps  back  and  vaults  on  to  the  horse, 
starting  off  at  a  gallop. 

COLONEL. 

Stop  him.  [The  cowboys  close  the  gates,  while  affecting  to  rush 
out  of  them.  TONY'S  horse  is  heard  galloping  away,  cheered  by 
cowboy  yells  outside. 

COLONEL. 

Open  those  gates. 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

Why,  certainly.  [Slowly  drags  his  men  away  and  opens  the 
gates.  MAJOR  COCHRAN  and  the  GUARD  rush  into  gateway. 

MAJOR. 

He  's  through  the  line.      Shall    they   fire?      [The  guard  is  at 

"aim." 

LENA. 

[Frantically.']      No. 

COLONEL. 

No.      Pursue  and  arrest  him. 

[MAJOR  salutes  ond  exit.      Orders  heard  rapidly  outside  ; 
then  sound  of  several  pursuing  horses. 


ARIZONA  149 

MRS.   CANBY. 

Well,  I  never! 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 
[Exultantly.']      He  was  on  Cochise. 

CANBY. 

Yes,  and  they — they  won't  any  troopers  catch  him. 

COLONEL. 

That  's  all,  gentlemen.  Get  ready  for  march.  Sergeant 
Kellar,  pending  inquiry,  reduced  to  ranks.  CELLAR  goes  out 
much  depressed."]  Send  those  minutes  to  Sheriff— copy  to  Depart 
ment.  [To  HALLOCK. 

H  A  L  L  O  C  K. 

Yes,  sir.     [  Takes  bis  notes  and  goes  out  of  gate,  and  to  the  right. 

COLONEL. 

Denton,  I  'm  glad  this  officer's  death  will  not  be  at  your  door. 
[DENTON  bows."]  Orderly,  my  horse.  [//<?  goes  into  the  dining- 
room. 

ESTRELLA. 
Mr.   Denton. 

DENTON. 

Mrs.  Bonham. 

ESTRELLA. 
I  want  to  speak  with  you  and  the  Colonel  before  he  goes. 

B  O  N  I  T  A. 

What  is  it,  Estrella. 

COLONEL. 

\_Coming  quickly  from  the  bouse. ,]  Mr.  Canby,  Captain 
Hodgman  cannot  live.  I  Ml  leave  a  detail  to  wire  his  people,  and 
consult  their  wishes. 


150  ARIZONA 

C  A  N  B  Y. 
Yes,  sir. 

MRS.    CANBY. 

And,  Colonel — 

COLONEL. 
Yes. 

MRS.     CANBY. 

You  said  he  lied.       [Pause.']      Did  he  ?      [Searching^. 

COLONEL. 

The  cause  of  Mr.  Demon's  resignation  was  not  that  given  by 
this  dying  officer.  Captain  Demon,  I  want  you  to  believe  I  Ve 
never  spoken  to  any  one  on  earth  concerning  the  facts  connected 
with  your  resignation. 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

I   do  believe  that. 

CANBY. 

What  was  the  real  cause  for  Denton's  leaving  ?  I  ask  it  in  his 
presence,  because  he  has  asked  to  marry  my  daughter,  Bonita. 

COLONEL. 

It  was  a  matter  personal  to  him,  and  of  which  I  will  not 
speak. 

CANBY. 

If  it  was  any  nonsense  with  Estrella,  /want  you  to  say  so. 

COLONEL. 

It — was — not — that. 

CANBY. 

Tell  me,  too,  that  it  was  nothing  against  his  honor — nothing 
that  should  make  the  little  one  ashamed  for  loving  him.  \JPause.~\ 
She  's  the  sister  of  your  wife,  Colonel  Bonham.  /  ask  you  to 
answer. 


ARIZONA  151 

COLONEL. 

Her  sister  knows  all  of  the  circumstances  that  I  know.  Bonita's 
happiness  more  nearly  concerns  her  than  it  does  me.  She  will 
have  to  tell  you.  Goodbye.  [He  starts  away. 

ESTRELLA. 

Wait,  I  will  tell  them  and  you  shall  hear  me.  [The  COLONEL 
pauses  and  returns.^  My  husband  did  find  Mr.  Denton  in  our 
drawing-room — and — I  was  there,  too.  I  was  going  away — 
Denton  came  to  prevent  us.  He  took  from  Captain  Hodgman 
my  jewels,  which  I  had  given  him,  and  which  were  all  of  me  he 
loved,  and  told  him  to  go.  Then  I  heard  my  husband  returning. 
In  that  terrible  moment,  I  knew  that  I  loved  my  husband,  and  I 
hoped  to  keep  him  from  learning  the  truth.  I  made  Mr.  Denton 
go  back  of  the  curtain,  but  Captain  Hodgman  met  my  husband  on 
his  way  and  told  him  that  Denton  was  in  the  house.  My  husband 
discovered  Mr.  Denton,  guiltily  hiding,  as  he  thought.  He  had 
him  searched — and  found — my  jewels — and  a  letter  from  Captain 
Hodgman  to  me,  planning  our  flight.  Sergeant  Kellar  hid  the 
letter.  The  jewels  seemed  the  explanation  of  Denton* s  presence, 
and,  without  believing  his  own  words,  my  husband  called  Mr. 
Denton  a  thief,  and  demanded  his  resignation.  Oh,  Denton,  I 
thank  you  with  all  my  broken  heart  !  But  it  was  all  in  vain. 
From  that  day  my  husband  has  distrusted  me — not  you.  He  knew 
you  couldn't  steal,  and  he  doesn't  know  that  I  love  him.  And 
I  am  punished  as  only  women  can  understand. 

[Kneels  at  table  weeping.  The  rose  which  BONITA  gave 
her  drops  from  her  throat  to  the  stage.  BONITA  in 
stinctively  starts  toward  ESTRELLA,  but  CANBY  re 
strains  her. 


152  ARIZONA 

C  A  N  B  Y. 

[Going  to  ESTRELLA'S  side.]  Gentlemen,  from  the  minute 
they  put  on  long  dresses,  I  reckon  every  father  fears  that  a  moment 
like  this  may  come  to  him.  We  've  been  uncommon  proud  of 
Strella,  and  Ma  and  me  have  throwed  out  our  chests  and  stepped 
high.  It  seems  she  's  mixed  it  up  a  little  now,  but  they  ain't  any 
trouble  comin'  to  her  that  her  Gov'nor  ain't  goin'  to  divide.  [He 
lifts  her  up  and  folds  her  close  to  bis  breast.  Pause]  I  know  that 
it  's  your  say,  Colonel,  and  I  can  see  you  're  turnin'  it  over  in 
your  mind.  I  want  you  to  do  that,  and  do  all  of  it,  before  you 

talk  any. 

[Pause.      HALLOCK  re-enters. 

H  A  L  L  O  C  K. 

[Saluting]  Colonel,  ready.  [COLONEL  answers  salute  and 
starts  to  'go.  BONITA  interposes,  with  tearful  vehemence. 

B  O  NI  T  A. 

Colonel  Bonham.      You  must  speak  to  my  sister! 

COLONEL. 

[Pause]      Tell    Major  Cochran  to   start.      I  '11  overtake  you. 
[HALLOCK  salutes  and  goes. 

BONITA. 

[Continuing,   almost    hysterically]      You    never    danced    with 
her.      You   never  took  her  to  the  towns.      You   were  always  at 
headquarters.      Don't  put  all  the  blame  on  her. 
[  There  is  the  distant  sound  of  a  bugle. 

COLONEL. 

[To  DENTON,  with  an  effort  at  judicial  calm]  The  letter  that 
was  on  you  when  Kellar  arrested  you — 


BONITA 


ARIZONA  153 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

[Taking  bis  tone  from  the  COLONEL.]  Kellar  returned  it  to 
me,  and  I  sent  it  back  to  Mrs.  Bonham. 

E  ST  RE  LL  A. 

[Lifting  her  face  from  her  father's  shoulder^      I  have  it. 

COLONEL. 

You  first  got  it,  how  ?     [To  DENTON. 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

From  Kellar.  Lena  had  given  it  to  him.  [COLONEL  looks  at 
LENA. 

LENA. 

I  saw  Captain  Hodgman  give  it  to  Mrs.  Bonham,  and  I 
took  it. 

DENTON. 

[Pause.~\  I  have  reason  to  believe  that,  after  that  night,  Mrs. 
Bonham  never  spoke  to  Captain  Hodgman  again. 

COLONEL. 

[Pause.~\  Mr.  Canby — [Pause.~\ — I  do  not  care  to  say  any 
thing  that  I  may  wish  unsaid.  I  must  join  my  regiment.  I — I 
will  leave — Mrs.  Bonham  in  your  care — till  I  return. 

ESTRELLA. 

Frank — [Pause  ;  she  slowly  approaches  him.~^ — you  're  not  a 
young  man  any  longer.  There  will  be  fever  as  well  as  war. 
You  may  not  return. 

COLONEL. 

Worse  fates  than  that  may  come  to  a  soldier.  [He  turns  to 
.DENTON. 


154  ARIZONA 

ESTRELIA. 

I  must  say  more  to  you.  [She  shrinks,  hurt  by  the  rebuff,  and 
CANBY  quickly  takes  her  in  his  arms  again.  MRS.  CANBY,  moved 
by  ESTRELLA' s  suffering,  crosses  to  her. 

COLONEL. 

[Taking  DENTON'S  hand.]  My  boy.  [Pause.]  Your  father 
and  I — on  the  same  horse — bang  into  Miles' s  dining-room — 
[There  is  something  in  his  voice  very  like  weakness. 

D  E  N  TO  N. 

I  know. 

COLONEL. 

We  're  both  going  to  the  front.  I  '11  wire  the  department, 
and  you  've  got  to  rejoin  the  I  ith. 

D  E  N  T  O  N. 

Why,  Colonel— 

COLONEL. 

[Insisting.]  If  it  's  only  for  one  week.  You  will  give  an  old 
man  that  chance  of  reparation. 

D  E  N  TO  N . 

Yes — [Pause.] — and  you — give  the  wife  a  chance?  [The 
COLONEL  makes  a  momentary  effort  at  composure,  and  approaches 
ESTRELLA,  whom  CANBY  pushes  gently  toward  her  husband. 

ESTRELLA. 
Frank — I  love  you. 

COLONEL. 

And — this  man,  who  is  dying  ? 

ESTRELLA. 
No — never.      It  was  a  madness,  a  recoil  from  the  dreariness  of 


ARIZONA 


J55 


the  desert — a  woman  too  much  alone.      [Pause. ~\      Can't  you  say 

one  kind  thing — one  word  of — forgiveness  ? 

[The  COLONEL  lifts  bis  head;  the  look  on  his  face  softens 
to  tenderness.  He  is  about  to  speak,  when  there  comes 
a  second  and  more  distant  sound  of  the  bugle. 

COLONEL. 

When — I — come — back.      [He  starts  away. 

ESTRELLA. 

[  Taking  one  step  after  him.']  Frank — [She  turns  back  to  CANDY'S 
ready  embrace.  The  COLONEL,  hearing  her  sob,  stops  and  looks 
back.  The  others  move  in  an  involuntary  gesture  of  appeal. 
He  signals  silence  ;  comes  to  where  the  rose  which  ESTRELLA  wore  is 
lying  and  stoops  to  get  it.  CANBY  quickly  turns  ESTRELLA'  sface  so 
that  she  sees  her  husband  pick  up  the  rose  and  thrust  it  into  the 
breast  of  his  blouse.  He  goes. 

CURTAIN 


THIS   BOOK  IS   DUE  ON   THE   LAST  DATE 
STAMPED   BELOW 


RENEWED  BOOKS  ARE  SUBJECT  TO  IMMEDIATE 
RECALL 


LIBRARY,  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA,  DAVIS 

Book  Slip-10m-l,'63(D5068s-i)458 


26962U. 
Thomas ,  A • 
Arizona 


Call  Number: 

PS3Q22 
A68 


PS302.2. 


269S21 


